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Musings on organic gardening, frugal living, the environment, self-sufficiency and whatever else strikes our fancy. 

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Green Worms

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LorienLlewellyn

Quotable Informer

PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:40 am


I was digging in my garden earlier today, and I found a green worm. I'd never seen anything like it. It looked like any other worm except that it was very green in color, not that usual pinkish worm color. So I did a search for green worms on the internet, but all that's coming up is a band called Worm Is Green and some sort of caterpillar that's called a green worm for some reason. rolleyes Has anyone else seen one of these guys or know anything about them? I'm in New York state if that makes a difference.
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 1:52 pm


Can you post a pic? There are a few things it could be. If it was really fat, it could have been a tomato horn worm, but you normally find them on leaves of plants not in the dirt.

Edit: yeah, being in New York makes a difference, I'm in Texas, so I may not know cause we have different bugs here, but we have people from all over in the guild biggrin

dragon_of_emry

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LorienLlewellyn

Quotable Informer

PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 2:03 pm


Sadly I didn't even think to take a picture until like an hour after I had put him back in the ground.

Picture something this but green in color, maybe two inches long at most:

User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 2:23 pm


This is a picture of a hornworm, and they can look more blue or more green. It doesn't sound quite like what your describing, but if you found it near vegetables or especially around tomatoes, there's a good chance it was because they are about 2-3" long when they are mature. If this is what you found, act quick because they can really wreck a garden.

If this isn't what you saw, and you only saw the one, I wouldn't worry too much, just keep a close eye and if you see more of them try to get a pic or catch one and take it to your local nursery (in a sealed jar or ziplock bag). Also, if you start noticing damage to your plants you might want to take a few of your leaves to them (also in a sealed bag) so they can get a look.

If you are still worried and want to treat with something both spinosad and BT worm killer are bacteria based organic solutions which will kill pretty much all worms and caterpillars, but they do have some safety warnings on them so be careful with them, and don't use them on fruit or vegetables immediately before you eat them, because they can make you sick in large doses. This is generally something you wait and do once you know you have a problem, though.

Just thinking, my sister once thought she saw a green worm and it turned out to be a baby grass snake (which completely freaked me out) but they are harmless enough, and do kind of look like worms when they are very young.

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LorienLlewellyn

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PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 3:14 pm


Nope, that's not him,

It's a flower garden, no vegetables. I'm not into garden maintenance. I was only digging because my mother gave me some bulbs, and I thought I'd stick them in the garden and be done with it. They'll probably be carried off by local squirrels or something because they're barely covered. But oh well. xp So I don't mind much if they get eaten. I only care about my lilac.

I actually saw another smaller green worm when I dug in another spot. Maybe I should just go dig a bit tomorrow with a camera ready and try to find another. xp

I actually carried it in a shovel to show my partner. He was like, "What is it?" I was like, "I don't know. Look up 'green worm.'" He was like, "Is it a snake?" I was like, "Of course not." But now you've said it too, so I wonder! I don't think so though. It seemed slimy like a worm. And it didn't have a head, face, mouth, or eyes that I could see, just like a worm.

Urg, it's going to drive me crazy now. xp I can't believe I can't find anything on the internet about it! Although it would help if there weren't bands named Worm Is Green, and companies name Green Earthworm, and all that. xp

Whoa, hold on. I just found this picture:

User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

Now that looks quite a bit like the one I found, although the site said the person found it in the water. So I don't think it's exactly the same kind that I found, but at least now I have a closer picture to show. xp
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 3:32 pm


The only "green worm" I can remember seeing is an inchworm, not a worm at all. I hope you can post a picture!

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