what is this bug??

[sadie_sabot]

so, I did a buncha work in the garden today, and when i was digging up a bed, i found these little characters. I've found them before and put them into the city compost (as opposed to the compost pile) with the idea that I do not know if they're friend or foe

Comments

[michelleheran]

Looks like the pupa of the Tobacco Hornworm, which burrow into the earth as caterpillars to pupate and finally emerge as adult moths. As caterpillars they are a garden pest. :\ As moths they're kinda pretty in their own way. :)
It's unlikely that they will emerge (seeing as you don't know how long they were burrowed), but you never know!

[sadie_sabot]

I thought it was tobacco hornworm, but they don't have the external antenae thing.

[michelleheran]

Yeah, a tomato hornworm -or some other "worm" caterpillar- is more likely (I just couldn't find any pupa pics of them). It would be neat if they emerge -be sure to post a pic of the wing pattern so we can figure out what they are for sure! :)

[albionwood]

They are pupae of something, but it's hard to tell what until they hatch. I have similar things in my soil but mine are smaller - only about half an inch long, closer to nickel-sized than quarter-size. They are probably some sort of moth (not tobacco hornworms, we don't have those here), perhaps cabbage moths. I squish them.

[sadie_sabot]

I think they are cutworms, mainly because they look a lot like some cutworm pix i found, and also I have found cutworm caterpillars in that same bed.

We just set up a habitat for them (bg jar, dirt, a couple plants in the dirt...) and we're gonna see what emerges. My kid is super excited about it.