First thought some rodent was eating my tomatoes in the greenhouse, but discovered several giant caterpillers (2" - 3" long), look like extras from Starship Troopers!!
Anyone else suffering from the blighters?
Any good organic deterrent?

Looks like the "2006 Joe Totale Tomato Chutney" is gonna be scarce :(

Elephant Hawk moths?
Pick em off one by one and kill em.

Elephant Hawk moths?
Pick em off one by one and kill em.

If thet get any bigger, they'll start pickin' us off!!

Are they black with a sort of a sting on the back end? And like an eye pattern on the side near their head?

Don't kill them! They grow into the most beautiful, huge pink moths. Please at least chuck 'em over the fence or something! :(

Don't kill them! They grow into the most beautiful, huge pink moths. Please at least chuck 'em over the fence or something! :(
Pond fish love `em,



*Jabberwock Runs for the hills*

Are they black with a sort of a sting on the back end? And like an eye pattern on the side near their head?

Greeny brown, no pattern, and what looks like a horn :gag:

They now reside in my bin with a bucket full of half/quarter eaten toms :mad:

Yeah a species of hawk moth. All you can do is pick em off.

Have a look through these (http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/plates.htm) or these (http://www.javajane.co.uk/Hawk%20Sphinx%20moths/index.html).