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Thread: Tomato Hornworms

  1. #1
    Bluez3023
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    Default Tomato Hornworms

    So I wake up one day to a strange sound coming from the tank and see that apparently one of the hornworms I threw in my pacman cage got away and matured.

    The moth was huge and I didn't want to deal with it, the next day I wake up and see two of them....and they are mating or something...(no idea how I missed to worms moving around/a giant cocoon)

    Do I have to worry about eggs? Should I just try and catch the moths and keep them? Could hornworm eggs even survive?
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  3. #2
    Dog Shrink
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    Hornworms usually bury themselves when they cocoon once they reach about 4 inches so it could be easy to miss. I'm surprised your pacman isn't trying to eat the moths. The eggs if any should be easy to spot and remove or culture into hornworms if you want to start your own colony. Keep the adult moths and let them have at it. Those are pricy lil boogers.

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  5. #3
    Bluez3023
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    I doubt my pacman could catch these things, thanks for the info. I guess I'll just wait and see

  6. #4
    Kurt
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    So what do you feed them, providing there is viable eggs? You can't feed them tomato plants as they would then be toxic for the frogs to eat. I haven't a clue what the feed hornworm cultures.

  7. #5
    mdtalley22
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    I bought hornworms once for my bearded dragon and I believe I got them from Mulberry Farms, and if so they have hornworm chow that they sell, but I think I remember looking up how to raise them and some website list possible trees, leaves, etc you can feed them on.
    Here is a list of a recipe for solid food but I don't know how viable it is for moths, just says for the worms:
    http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomolog...nduca.diet.htm
    or even check out this website:
    http://insected.arizona.edu/manduca/manual.html

  8. #6
    Socrates
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluez3023 View Post
    I doubt my pacman could catch these things, thanks for the info. I guess I'll just wait and see
    There are two solutions I suggest to allow your pacman to chow on these delicious moths. First you could stun them (just put the moth in a bag and flick it with your finger - usually knows them silly) or spray them heavily with water on their wings so they fall in front of your pacman. Bon apetit!

  9. #7
    Socrates
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurt View Post
    So what do you feed them, providing there is viable eggs? You can't feed them tomato plants as they would then be toxic for the frogs to eat. I haven't a clue what the feed hornworm cultures.
    I'm 90% positive that the "hornworm chow" is a mixture of plants that are similar to tomatoes. I know that tomatoes are in the family of plants that consist of tobacco...or it could be some chemistry experiment, wouldn't surprise me there.

  10. #8
    Dog Shrink
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    I thought it was just eating the tomato leaves that was toxic not eating the actual tomato itself tho. Or do BOTH leaf and fruit have bad ffects on toads that eat hornworms loaded with tomato?

  11. #9
    Bluez3023
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    Well, woke up this morning to a tank covered in eggs. So I'm guessing I should buy a kit or something, it looks like their diet doesn't have a simple ingredient list. Does anyone know if you can feed them other things besides the artificial diet?

    picture of eggs attached
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  12. #10
    Socrates
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluez3023 View Post
    Well, woke up this morning to a tank covered in eggs. So I'm guessing I should buy a kit or something, it looks like their diet doesn't have a simple ingredient list. Does anyone know if you can feed them other things besides the artificial diet?

    picture of eggs attached
    I'm working on that, I used to raise caterpillars of different species of butterflies. So let me poke around a bit. And you are one lucky duck, you are manufacturing your own food source! and a highly nutritious one at that!

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  14. #11
    Bluez3023
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    thanks, It might be a bit of a problem though lol...

    Already breeding Blaptica Dubia, Panchlora Nivea, and Blatta Lateralis

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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    I am insanely jealous that you have these eggs. This moth is a species of Hawk Moth. I love Hawk Moths. I am pretty sure there is a common tree you can use as a leaf source to feed these moths, but I can't remember what it is. Having said that, I also think there's a substitute available which is easier to deal with.
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  16. #13
    Socrates
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    Default Re: Tomato Hornworms

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluez3023 View Post
    thanks, It might be a bit of a problem though lol...

    Already breeding Blaptica Dubia, Panchlora Nivea, and Blatta Lateralis
    Alright here ya go, good old University scientists to the rescue.

    http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/hornworm.htm

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