Caterpillars - we grow them large in Tenerife

[mike in chayofa]

I know that it's Haloween, but this is ridiculous.

Taken in my garden a few minutes ago

Any idea what it is (was). I reckon that it's a Death's-head hawkmoth

4099

[KirstyJay]

Have you got any more? I'd like some for my class to do the 'very hungry caterpillar' with the kids.

[mike in chayofa]

Have you got any more? .

I bloody hope not.

I have been spraying the garden for weeks now and got rid of loads of ordinary caterpillars. No wonder this one wasn't killed - I'd probably need a whole bottle of insecticide!!!

[canarybird]

It could be a Death's Head Hawk moth, which just eats a few leaves and not much more, or it could be a tomato hornworm (http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1224.html) which I've had here in my Tenerife garden on occasion. They do eat a lot of foliage.

As the link says, the best way to get rid of them is to pick them off the foliage and kill them by putting them in a basin of soapy water.