snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Aug 3, 2014 21:39:05 GMT -5
This has been an excellent gardening year.Rain,mild temperatures,couldnt ask for a better one.I planted birdhouse and dipper gourds this year,and the blooms open just before dark,they must be pollinated by moths.Every night they are fluttering all around my garden.I decided to try to get pics of the large moths,but they didn't want to pose for me for the most part.Did get a couple,and one excellent shot of one obtaining nectar.  Look closely,a very long probiscus   A smaller one,can vaguely see probiscus coming out.   They do the moonvines also,these flowers are 6 inches across,and very fragrant  Some of their handiwork,dipper gourds,trellis broke down so heavy  Birdhouse gourds. An enjoyable late evening stroll everyday!Thanks for looking. snuffy |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Aug 3, 2014 22:07:17 GMT -5
Those heavy bodied moths are hawk moths Snuffy. They usually feed at sun down, wings fast enough to make a weird buzzing sound.
First time I heard them i was perplexed. They were going to town on canna blooms. They are here late August. Thought they were hummingbirds.
They weigh about 3 pounds(not quite) but are heavy chunks.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Aug 3, 2014 22:14:23 GMT -5
Yeah James,gonna have lots of baby hornworms on my tomatoes soon.
snuffy
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Aug 3, 2014 22:30:45 GMT -5
ah, those are the moths for those monster caterpillars. I meant to research the moth for a hornworm, there it is.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 3, 2014 23:16:18 GMT -5
Nice gourds, snuffy. That is something I've never grown before. Always love the pics of your yard and garden.
Out here, we know them as sphinx moths. And yes, they do come from the hornworms. They eat your tomatoes, the moths pollinate you gourds. Sounds like a fair trade off.
They pollinate the citrus (mainly orange) in my yard. As a kid, used to tie thread to them and fly them. Strong fliers!
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snuffy
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Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Aug 3, 2014 23:33:47 GMT -5
Nice gourds, snuffy. That is something I've never grown before. Always love the pics of your yard and garden. Out here, we know them as sphinx moths. And yes, they do come from the hornworms. They eat your tomatoes, the moths pollinate you gourds. Sounds like a fair trade off. They pollinate the citrus (mainly orange) in my yard. As a kid, used to tie thread to them and fly them. Strong fliers! Jean,you got a great point about the trade off.My tomato plants are still green,but the temperature is too high to set fruit.I'm leaving them to see if some make it to fall,and don't check for the hornworms anymore.Live and let live! snuffy |
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
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Post by garock on Aug 4, 2014 15:34:58 GMT -5
Mr Snuffy ! Those tomato horn worms have stripped my tomatoes this year. I have a lot of stem tomato plants. I started using a natural bug killer, diatoms or something like that, and it has done a pretty good job. Tomato blight has got me too. Been using fungicide and it helps but does not elimate the problem. My soil in Sand Hill GA is apparently not to good either, sandy. Lastly, not a lot of rain. Been watering ! Peppers are doing pretty good. As I grew up in LaGrange GA, we always had a great garden and gave away stuff all the time. But at Sand Hill I have not done too well with my garden. I reckon I left my green thumb at my folks place in LaGrange ! !
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 4, 2014 17:19:51 GMT -5
Great pics! I've never seen as many types of sphinx moths as I have since we moved here to Texas. I can't even identify Half of them but they are gorgeous moths and incredible to watch.
I was wishing I had my camera with me on my hike yesterday. I jumped a huge Underwing Moth and finally chased him down when he landed on a tree trunk. Wonderful camo pattern. Cool name too, its called the "Sad Underwing"....Mel
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Aug 4, 2014 17:36:26 GMT -5
Mr Snuffy ! Those tomato horn worms have stripped my tomatoes this year. I have a lot of stem tomato plants. I started using a natural bug killer, diatoms or something like that, and it has done a pretty good job. Tomato blight has got me too. Been using fungicide and it helps but does not elimate the problem. My soil in Sand Hill GA is apparently not to good either, sandy. Lastly, not a lot of rain. Been watering ! Peppers are doing pretty good. As I grew up in LaGrange GA, we always had a great garden and gave away stuff all the time. But at Sand Hill I have not done too well with my garden. I reckon I left my green thumb at my folks place in LaGrange ! ! My Florida relatives always ask me for 'mountain tomatoes' Frankie. They mean 'clay grown tomatoes'. Hard to beat tomatoes grown in GA red clay. Their sandy soil grows a fairly tasteless tomato. I brought some of them 5 gallon buckets of red clay. They get it now. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Aug 4, 2014 17:39:25 GMT -5
Great pics! I've never seen as many types of sphinx moths as I have since we moved here to Texas. I can't even identify Half of them but they are gorgeous moths and incredible to watch. I was wishing I had my camera with me on my hike yesterday. I jumped a huge Underwing Moth and finally chased him down when he landed on a tree trunk. Wonderful camo pattern. Cool name too, its called the "Sad Underwing"....Mel A gas station down in Salt Springs FL. has a strong night light that attracts incredible amounts of insects. I have found half a dozen sphinx varieties at one time roosting in the light. |
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