Tomato hornworms in home gardens
The journey of a hornworm goes through several phases throughout its lifetime. From emerging as a tiny egg, the hornworm slowly develops into a caterpillar that voraciously feeds on foliage. As the caterpillar grows, it sheds its skin numerous times, casting off its old skin for a new one, enabling its body to grow.
After a series of molts, the hornworm reaches its full size, calculating approximately three to four inches in
length. At this point, it goes through
the chrysalis stage by attaching itself to a secure surface.
Within the pupa, the hornworm metamorphoses into an entirely distinct creature. This metamorphosis is nothing short of miraculous, as the larva undergoes a total reorganization of its physical form. After a period of time, the pupa splits open, and the fully-grown hornworm emerges with colorful winged appendages.
The grown-up hornworm, now a night-flying insect, seeks a mate to proceed the cycle. After mating, the female hornworm deposits her ova on a appropriate host plant for the offspring. And so, the life span of a hornworm repeats again, continuing the circle of existence for this amazing creature.
The existence of a hornworm goes through several phases throughout its life span. From emerging as a tiny egg, the hornworm slowly grows into a caterpillar that voraciously feeds on foliage. As the caterpillar matures, it sheds its skin numerous times, casting off its old skin for a new one, enabling its body to grow.
In the aftermath of a sequence of molts, the hornworm reaches its full size, calculating approximately three to four inches in length. At this point, it enters the chrysalis stage by fastening itself to a secure surface.
Within the chrysalis, the hornworm metamorphoses into an entirely different creature. This transformation is nothing brief of miraculous, as the caterpillar undergoes a total reorganization of its body. After a duration of time, the pupa splits open, and the fully-grown hornworm emerges with colorful
wings.
The grown-up hornworm, now a night-flying insect,
seeks a mate to proceed the cycle. After mating, the female hornworm deposits her eggs on a appropriate food source for the next generation. And so, the life span of a hornworm repeats again, persisting the circle of existence for this fascinating creature.
