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tiny hornworm stuck to stem of honeysuckle?

Mary Leek
12 years ago

Could someone advise me regarding this little cat I discovered late yesterday on my honeysuckle plant. It appears to me it's backside is stuck to the stem of the plant. It is the end with the hook on it. The hook is black tipped. I've no idea what type of little cat this is but should it's backside be attached to the stem. It is alive as it will arch it's back but I don't think it's moved it's position since I saw it early evening yesterday.

Should I attempt to gently pry the backside away from the stem? It will surely die if it is stuck to the stem.

The photo below isn't very good but I can't get under it to take a photo of his topside and afraid to try and move him and perhaps damage him.

What do you think?

~Mary

unknown hornworm cat on Honeysuckle 'Gold Flame' - is it ill?

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Comments (5)

  • MissSherry
    12 years ago

    Are you sure it's stuck, Mary, or could it just be molting? They get real still when they do that. I'd leave it alone, at least for a while.
    It's probably either a snowberry clearwing or a hummingbird clearwing. They're the only two hornworms/sphinx moths I know of that use honeysuckle.
    Congratulations, assuming your cat is okay! There's nothing cuter than those hummingbird moths!
    Sherry

  • Mary Leek
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Not certain it's stuck but look at the stem in the photo where it's little end is attached. There is a black spot there and looks like it is also on the body of the little cat. Perhaps they secret something onto the stem to hold themselves in place when they molt? His body is stretched from the stem over to the leaf the other end of his body is attached to. There is nothing to support his body between the stem and the leaf.

    I do have hummingbird moths that frequent the nectar plants.

    Thank you for your help.

    ~Mary

  • seedmoney
    12 years ago

    What an interesting caterpillar, Mary. Do you have an update on its condition?

  • Mary Leek
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    He's still alive this morning. By early evening, he was looking worse. His (at least what I think is his head) had shrunk and turned dark, almost black. It wasn't a molt, just looked like he might have a virus or something attacking his body. I felt he was dying so I gently unstuck his backside from the stem and put some leaves over him so the birds wouldn't see him. This morning he had moved his little body more under the leaf he had been feeding on; his head is now the same green color as his body and he looks much better. Other than what I did last night, I've just left him alone.

    ~Mary

  • tomatoworm59
    12 years ago

    Keep a sharp eye on the little cat. Maybe you should bring it indoors, place in a jar with some leaves for captive rearing. It could be parasitized. It is NOT normal to pass such runny matter that it dries and sticks itself to the plant like that. It is not molting.
    Hemaris diffinis.

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