tomato worms?

[Countryside Chams]

i went out to the garden last night and had huge tomato worms on my tomato plants. these are the same as hornworms right? i know i shouldnt feed these to my chams because of insecticides or other poisons they may have eaten, but does anyone know if i let them pupate and breed if the eggs will be any good? also is there any way to tell male from female in the worm stage? thanks everyone

 

[THECHAMMAN]

the plant that they eat is poisionous. but u can let it pass its stomach content and then feed it. or u can buy some hornworm food and feed it that and breed em. no problem feeding them, but u have to let them pass their stomach content if they have been eating tomato plants.

 

[Kat77]

I actually don't know if you should ever feed the wild horn worms that have been munching on the tomato plants, even after emptying of stomach content. But it is really up to you.

 

[Countryside Chams]

i dont think i will try to feed them off, was justw ondering if breeding them would be possible?

 

[SoCaliSon]

You definately can breed them.. And would be better to breed to the ones from your garden, and feed off the offspring. They are a tough feeder to breed though. After they pupate...The moths are huge flying Bats! Quite demanding... Google...The Manduca Project...that will tell you how to raise them.