Question
we live in louisville,ky and we have a flower garden,we have found several small egg like things,we dug them out and one had a 2in skin like thing hanging to it, i put them in the trash and one hatched and had a green catapilliar come out of it,, they give off a stinky odor,what are these things and will they damage the garden adn what can we do? thanks

Answer
Jerry, there are literally hundreds of species of caterpillars, so I cannot really identify it with just a description. There is a strong possibility that it is the green hornworm, but regardless of which species it is, the treatment is still the same.

I always recommend organic controls, and the best on the market today for caterpillars is BT. BT is an organic insecticide which is short for bacillus thuringiensis, more commonly sold under the brand names Dipel or MVP. It is a dust that is non-toxic to humans and beneficials but highly effective against caterpillars and hornworms.  You can purchase this product through on-line catalogs such as Gardens Alive or locally at many garden centers.

I hope this answered your question.  Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike