I found this little guy resting on my Datura innoxia after it had a pretty big meal. It is really pretty and I was wondering if anyone knew what species of moth or butterfly it is. If you cant tell from the picture, the stripes are light blue. ( photo / image / picture from FlowerFreak22's Garden )
I can't tell you which butterfly it will turn into but it will be the Macroglossum stellatarum...or one similar. There are a few similar ones.
I think you may be right Carolyn. From what I can tell, it is going to get pretty big. I have found at least 6 more. They are really pretty and I think I'll let them stay. Thanks all!
They really are a nuisance pest. They will eat everything on the plant,destroying it, and then drop down to the ground and burrow in and pupate over winter. You will probably not see the moth that emerges from the cocoon. If you see tiny white cottony eggs/cocoons on its back that means that the tachnid wasp found it and is using it as a host for another generation of the tachnids. Which you don't want to destroy as they are beneficial insects and the hornworm is not.
If you want to get rid of them in your yard, could you relocate them to an open field? I try not to get rid of things so the natural cycle isn't disturbed...
Thanks for the info Carolyn. I did get rid of them, however, instead of killing them, I moved them into the woods behind my house.
