My florida ate a BIG hornnworm today.
I have tried to locate info on toxicity to turtles, but can not.
They are eaten by birds.
Any info?
thanks/patsy
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Patsy
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tomato hornworm ok for food source?
patsy1
Sep 09, 2008 02:03 AM
Replies (3)
curtis9980
Sep 09, 2008 09:21 AM
I defer to others to answer this, but I would think it would be OK. I know they commonly eat caterpillars in the wild.
I actually fed my 3-toed a hornworm just last week. I just cut the barb off the caterpillar's butt and threw him in and Rusty devoured him. But in hindsight, I probably shouldn't have, b/c I caught the caterpillar munching up my pencil holly, and I believe holly is toxic to boxies. Oops. Good thing Rusty's a tank! 
PHBoxTurtle
Sep 09, 2008 08:41 PM
It is fine for turtles to eat them however these caterpillars become beautiful, large moths that pollinate flowers and I don't use them as food for my turtles. We need every pollinator we can get since bees are on the decline When I see the moths I sometime mistake them for hummingbirds-they are that big! Tess
patsy1
Sep 10, 2008 05:46 PM
Yes I agree Tess.
We use to see them in California. But I haven't seen the moth here in Maui.
However, my Florida thought different!
Anyway, thanks for the advice from the two of you.
sincerely, Patsy
>>It is fine for turtles to eat them however these caterpillars become beautiful, large moths that pollinate flowers and I don't use them as food for my turtles. We need every pollinator we can get since bees are on the decline When I see the moths I sometime mistake them for hummingbirds-they are that big! Tess
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Patsy
