Hornworm question

[summerseeking]

I'm trying to figure out if the hornworm produced by hawkmoths, that are raised on tomatoes, are toxic for reptiles.

The hornworms themselves won't eat tomatoes, just the parents during their life cycle. Asking because they grow so much faster on their natural diet. Plus, I have a few eggs that hatched on the plant that I'm going to let live out their life cycle. I don't have the heart to cull them.

 

[kinyonga]

Look here...
https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/hornworm.htm
"The adult moth feeds on the nectar of various flowers and, like the larval form, is most active from dusk until dawn".

 

[ERKleRose]

The worms eat the leaves of the tomato plant, which is when they get toxic, I believe

 

[Chameleoking]

I'm trying to figure out if the hornworm produced by hawkmoths, that are raised on tomatoes, are toxic for reptiles.

The hornworms themselves won't eat tomatoes, just the parents during their life cycle. Asking because they grow so much faster on their natural diet. Plus, I have a few eggs that hatched on the plant that I'm going to let live out their life cycle. I don't have the heart to cull them.

No they are not.

 

[summerseeking]

Look here...
https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/hornworm.htm
"The adult moth feeds on the nectar of various flowers and, like the larval form, is most active from dusk until dawn".

The worms eat the leaves of the tomato plant, which is when they get toxic, I believe

Exactly, so I'm wondering if I raise a set of hornworms on tomato plants through pupation and into adult moths...will the hornworms they produce be safe for reptiles? The eggs they lay will be collected before they hatch. Does that make sense?

 

[ERKleRose]

They wouldn’t be safe to feed off
Edit: thought you meant that 1st generation of worms, I have no idea about that, but I personally wouldn’t risk it

 

[kinyonga]

Exactly, so I'm wondering if I raise a set of hornworms on tomato plants through pupation and into adult moths...will the hornworms they produce be safe for reptiles? The eggs they lay will be collected before they hatch. Does that make sense?

Sorry...I don't know if the toxins would still be in the moth eggs or not.

 

[kinyonga]

Just found this....
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/is-a-hawk-moth-edible.115967/


Why not go this way...raise the worms into moths on nontoxic foods and then the eggs will be safe for sure?

 

[summerseeking]

Just found this....
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/is-a-hawk-moth-edible.115967/


Why not go this way...raise the worms into moths on nontoxic foods and then the eggs will be safe for sure?

Thanks for the link 😊 That's my overall plan. I just have a few worms that hatched on the plant that I was going to let grow out. I wasn't sure if their offspring would be safe or not. It may be a better idea to just cull them then.