Hornworms and more specifically Sphinx moth caterpillars have returned to Central Florida. In late summer and fall they lay their eggs on papaya trees and their larva feast on the tree's foliage.
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Sphinx moths use a wide range of larval host plants, including both woody and nonwoody species. Each moth species has its own suite of suitable host plants (for example, some eat only members of the tobacco/tomato/potato family; others must eat the leaves of rose-family trees such as plum, cherry, and apple). Many sphinx moth species are named for their notable food plants, such as the Osage orange sphinx, four-horned elm sphinx, wild cherry sphinx, walnut sphinx, big poplar sphinx, snowberry clearwing, and grapevine sphinx.
Florida's sphinx moths are probably evolved to use the paw paw as host but find a more tasty and tender host in the non-native papayas that now thrive far into north central Florida. Read more about the Florida members of the Sphingidae family of moths here.
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| In this image the papaya is also being attacked by white flies and the caterpillars are in a form that resembles small vipers. |
The caterpillars take on many different forms and colors as they mature, these are evolutionary survival adaptations. Above a young caterpillar has not yet developed much of a horn (it protrudes to the right) and it has not yet developed the false eye pattern starburst that appears on the larger caterpillar below.
These caterpillars evade predation in a number of ways, and have a variety of defenses. The Errinyis alope changes colors as it matures, first to closely match the color of the underside of papaya leaves and when mature to resemble the stalk of a papaya tree where it will transform into chrysalis.
Above: Two examples of the same species. A mature Sphinx moth caterpillar (left) and an immature caterpillar (right). Here I have removed the caterpillars from the papaya trees and put them on other plants where they can do less harm.
Removing the young caterpillars might mean their death but if you choose to leave them on the papaya trees you can expect at least a month for your tree to recover when they have finished developing. During their early stages one caterpillar can easily remove all of the foliage from a papaya tree host.
Many sphinx moth caterpillar species have evolved eye spots either on their body (when they are caterpillars) or on their wings (as fully grown adults). This dark, circular marking is generally thought to resemble the eyes of a predator and deter attacks from birds that feed on insects. This mimicry is effective because the caterpillar is usually somewhat concealed, and because the predators must respond to the signals quickly.
Another sphinx moth (found in the Amazon) has evolved more elaborate disguises. Here the sphinx moth caterpillar (Hemeroplanes triptolemus) masquerades as a viper. Dangling from a twig it reveals an underside patterned in faux snakeskin and eyespots that appear to glisten. By sucking in air through tiny holes in its surface, the caterpillar inflates its head to create the illusion of a triangular skull swollen with venom glands. If the illusion isn't enough to scare off predators the caterpillar will lunge as if to strike.
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| A normal immature papaya tree |
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| An afternoon of sphinx moth development can denude a papaya tree |
Other caterpillars in the sphinx moth family have evolved similar tactics for surviving the stages of development when they are most vulnerable to predators. Nessus sphinx moths (Amphion floridensis), for example, emit an alarming shriek by forcing air through modified mouth parts whenever they’re disturbed, and many larvae will vomit toxic foregut contents onto pesky parasites.
These evolutionary strategies have helped to ensure that caterpillars will survive and eventually emerge as fluffy moths ready to mate, pass their adaptations along to the next generation, and of course pollinate flowers, helping to secure not only their own species’ survival but that of countless plants as well.
Read more about this family of moths here.
Sphinx moth caterpillars are often called hornworms, because they usually have a stiff, pointy horn on the rear end. They often rest with the thorax raised into the air and the head tilted downward, which reminded people of the posture of sphinx statues from ancient Egypt and elsewhere.
At the end of the caterpillars development stage it will have eaten all the leaves of the papaya tree and changed into a color that closely resembles the trees trunk where it will form its chrysalis, at the tree's base (below).
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| The Swamp Restrictions Fall 2020 |
For months it has been a given that the gameday experience in The Swamp is going to be different this season. Now, it has been revealed just how different.
And it is very different.
Stadium capacity for Gator games has been set at 20% for the 2020 season, Florida announced Thursday. The seating capacity for The Swamp is 88,548, so that means a crowd of right at 17,000 for all home games this season.
The reduced crowd isn’t the only big change.
There will be no tailgating allowed on campus, no Gator Walk for the players, no cheerleaders on the sidelines, no Gator Fan Fest and the Gator Walk Village will not be set up. Also, all ticketing will be mobile.
“As we have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked hand in hand with UF Health, the SEC and its Medical Guidance Task Force, along with campus officials, to create the safest environment possible for the student-athletes, staff and fans,” UF athletic director Scott Stricklin said.
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