OT: Saw a Hummingbird Moth Tonight!

16 years ago

Hi! We were out putting cages on our tomatoes tonight, when all of a sudden a huge bug came sipping on my datura plants. We were startled by it, and my husband swore it was a hummingbird (though it was a good deal bigger than the hummingbird we were watching a little while before on my petunias.) My son said it was a large moth. I didn't know, but I sure didn't think any hummingbirds had stripes, like this had. So, I come onto my computer and search for "striped hummingbird", and up comes the hummingbird moth. Pretty cool, I thought. Until I realized that they probably come from the big green tomato hornworm! Do I have to worry that we might get hornworms on our tomatoes? This is my first experience with datura, and not knowing any better, I planted them only a few feet from our 24 tomato plants! My husband will be pretty pi**ed if I brought hornworms to our garden!

Here is a link that might be useful: A fun little story I found about these moths and daturas

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Comments (4)

webkat5
16 years ago
Yes, they will be on your tomatoes...but, since you have Datura, too...just transfer the worms to those.

They will also eat Nocotiana, I believe...among other things.

I have thought about growing quite a bit of Datura simply for these moths....they are fantastic!
strouper2
16 years ago
I had the worms last year but unfortunately I never got any of the months because the braconid wasp showed up and killed all the worms. I wouldn't worry about the worms too much becki because they are very easy to pick off by hand but make sure that you leave a few so that the braconid can show up and take care of the rest. They lay their offspring on the worms and they slowly suck out all of the worms insides, so if you see a worm with little white looking things on him leave him be because they will take care of him quickly and while they're on the host he can't move around to eat anything else (isn't nature too cool). I would keep a close eye on your tomato plants though and not let a lot of these worms get on them because they can eat a lot in a very short period of time. Oh and finally did you WS your Datura Plants? I saw them on the link that you provided and would love to have some of those next year especially if I can attract that beautiful month.

Strouper

Strouper
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beckilove
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the info! webkat - I only have 3 plants that are flowering right now, and 2 more that aren't yet. You must not have to plant a lot to get the moths! They are pretty cool - but a bit scary when they fly right next to your face!

Strouper - the daturas are quite beautiful! I did not ws them, I will be doing that for the first time this year. I planted them in peat pots in late may or early june, I believe, and planted them out, and they are already blooming! I can send you some of the seeds, if you want. Let me know!

Rebecca
vera_eastern_wa
16 years ago
The other ones the Tobacco/Tomato hornworms eat are Petunia, Potato and Eggplants...any Nightshade member! Adults of any hummingbird moth species love any nectar producing flower.

Thank goodness we haven't had any of those two around here. We get lots of Clearwing Hummingbird Moths though starting with the the cherry blooms and catmint. They especially loved the white night flowering Nicotiana. I had white Datura and they'd pass it up for these! No Petunia for them yet, but they love these too..soon I hope mine will get in gear. Can't wait to see them go after 4 O'clocks when they start too :D

Vera

OT: Saw a Hummingbird Moth Tonight!

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OT: Saw a Hummingbird Moth Tonight!

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webkat5

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