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Large Green Caterpillar with white stripes(Carolina sphinx or Tobacco hornworm)

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TOBACCO HORNWORM
by: Moni

C Robson
you must have fed it well...tomato hornworms are usually the same size as tobacco hornworms...they are closely related.
HUGE!
by: C Robson

I noticed my pepper plants were appearing to be stripped and found one of these. Biggest worm I've had in my garden in 19 years. It even beats out the tomato hornworm
Carolina sphinx or Tobacco hornworm
by: Moni

Vickie
Your caterpillar is the Carolina sphinx or tobacco hornworm. It feeds on all of the solanaceous plants which include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers.
The adult moth is gray and has six pairs of yellow spots on its abdomen. The moth feeds on nectar of deep-throated flowers like honeysuckle, moonflower, or petunia.
This caterpillar has 7 angled white lines along the side while its relative the tomato hornworm has 8. The tobacco hornworm also has a red tail while the tomato hornworm has a black tail...seems like it should be the other way around!
There are 2 or more generations per year depending on location. They are found thru out North America.
They can be a pest of tomatoes, however there are parasitic wasps that lay eggs in them that keep them under control most of the time. If need be to control them, just pick off and smash or drop in soapy water.

Here are photos of the moth and larval stages - http://bugguide.net/node/view/3244/bgimage

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