Be sure to contact me if you have questions or topics you’d like covered in future posts.
Teresa Odle
Gardening in a Drought
E-mail: gardenwriter@odlecreative.com
Desert Southwest gardening can be sustainable, smart and spectacular.
Desert Southwest gardening can be sustainable, smart and spectacular.
Be sure to contact me if you have questions or topics you’d like covered in future posts.
Teresa Odle
Gardening in a Drought
E-mail: gardenwriter@odlecreative.com
Comment: The big hornworm on the willow, was Manduca rustica. Yes, it is a first cousin to M. quinquemaculata and of course, M. sexta, which is also pictured. To my knowledge, the rustic, is the only Manduca to eat NON solanaceous plants. Rustics prefer a variety of bushes, shrubs, trees and common weeds and wildflowers. While the larvae are only just a little larger/heavier than the sexta, the beautiful moth, is noticeably 1/3 larger.
Teresa Odle
Linda: Thanks so much for the clarification! Now, THAT is an adaptive insect… and it was a really large larva. But then, it was difficult to judge while on a tree vs. a tomato plant. I appreciate you writing in to let me know. I’ll update the caption.