I’ve only seen one hornworm this season. A month ago, I spotted it crawling along the dirt between my mom’s garden and my own. At the time, I was annoyed because they’re so destructive and I was desperately trying to keep my tomatoes alive. So I scooped it up and threw it to the birds. It was an instant death. Not the first time I’ve done that, but the first time that it made me sad. I still think about that. I don’t know how this one was different. Maybe because it turned out to be the only one this year. Maybe for different reasons. I’ve seen the very small ones, and they’re so vibrant and cute (even if they do destroy everything I worked on). Maybe I’m sad because I remember my struggle with them a couple years ago, and that didn’t happen this year, so…I miss them? Whatever the case, I’m resolved to never kill them again. I’ll find other ways to handle finding them in my garden. They’re probably not healthy for all birds to eat anyway. Junk food bugs, maybe.
I used to raise horn worms for my lizards. They were so cute. I felt like a monster. So I switched to meal worms and silk worms. All mealworms can still die, but the silkworms made me sad. I had to give away the lizards…
@Colonelmustardseed They are. I have a hard time killing bugs. And non bugs of course! They all live lives of struggle and we come along and decide they do not matter. … I think I’m tired and rambling. Heh.. I’ll stop overthinking this now.
