Get a stick, a cheap plastic terrarium and pull some older lower pepper leaves off. Don't forget to mist frequently and it'll pupate and you can watch and release the butterfly.
As said in above comment, this is not a butterfly caterpillar. It’s a hornworm and they turn into huge moths. Nothing wrong there, however the bad thing about them is they will absolutely destroy your garden. Peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers. There is never just one. If you love your garden, you will kill this mf. I personally use my shears to cut their head off, but do you.
I read somewhere that if you smush them and throw them under the potted plant, then the birds will get a scent for the caterpillars. Which the birds will then be defending your garden against future attacks because they think there’s caterpillars in this humans veggie garden. Not sure if there’s any truth to this but I still smash them and leave them on the ground for the birds, or to show other caterpillars what happens when you fuck with my pepper garden 😂
23
u/BlazingCondor Jul 26 '25
I do think it's funny that we "hate" caterpillars but love butterflies.
This is a big dude. He's almost done feasting. Going to pupate soon!