Many years ago my husband used to curse them when he found their caterpillars on his tomato plants. The tobacco/tomato hornworm, that big green monster with the hooked tail, is the youth stage of your Hummingbird moth (also known as a Hawk moth, sphinx moth etc.). Later we found out how beneficial they are and dedicated a sacrificial tomato plant or three for these wonderful pollinators. Their larvae are diet specific eating only plants in the solinaceae family such as tomatoes, eggplants, etc. Tossing them in the grass or into the weeds will not save them. My neighbor and I mistakenly did that when the caterpillars were found munching on her ornamental Datura plants. This is another species that has lessened over the years as the urbanization of the wild has ruined much of their habitat. So if you have them buzzing around your yard, try and save a tomato plant or two for their young to munch on..............Maryl
