The other day I found a tomato horn worm on one of my lemon verbenas. Instead of “offing” it as I do with most caterpillars I decided to keep it. Why you may ask? Because it’s really cool, nearly 5 inches long and probably 3 or 4 oz and it has a ½ inch horn which makes it look really threatening. But mostly I kept it since it because tomato horn worms become Sphinx moths, which are really neat moths, (most people think they are small hummingbirds.) I have been moving it from plant to plant so it doesn't eat too many leaves from each plant and hurt the plant, but last night when I went to move it, it was gone. I looked everywhere, for the caterpillar or a cocoon, but to no avail. Thus I must assume he got eaten.
So sad, it ate half the leaves on my lemon verbenas, only to be picked off… At least the lemon verbena will be more potent for awhile. Remember plants make those oils (and other chemicals) not to encourage us to eat them, but as a deterrent to bugs (plants don’t have immune systems so they engage in chemical warfare and either attract bugs to eat the bugs that are eating them, or try and out right poison the bugs). So, if your favorite mint or basil or whatever has been a little bland as of late, tear 5 or 6 of the leaves in half a couple of days before you plan to harvest, to stimulate the production of essential oils. (Pinching back or pruning doesn't simulate insect damage very well, so oil production isn't as strongly induced.)(See I managed to work some advice in to this one too! ;)
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