The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Look who I found today enjoying my very first ripening tomato of the season...

Meet the Tomato Hornworm caterpillar. 

I think my little friend may technically be an Achemon Sphinx or Hornless Hornworm. How's that for irony?

He's not quite as cute as the one in the Eric Carle book...

And apparently they are voracious eaters, devastating tomato plants by dining on both the leaves & the fruit.  He also poops a lot & probably has friends...

Good thing that I know a guy...my brother-in-law, Tom, identified my little friend from a picture I emailed him from my mobile phone. And he has just the thing to safely take care of the problem, so that I can enjoy the next ripe tomato all by myself!

See ya' later, caterpillar!

(And, just for the record, this caterpillar doesn't turn into a butterfly but a big 'ol moth.)