This caterpillar is primarily found on fruit and ornamental plants and will rarely be seen attacking vegetable crops. Look-alike caterpillars are the larvae of the white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata). A noticeable feature is the “handle” structure in which the moth’s mouthparts will develop. The pupa (chrysalis) is 2-3 inches long and dark brown. Hornworm eggs are spherical in shape and 1.5 mm in diameter, ranging in color from white to a light green. In flight, they may be mistaken as hummingbirds. They typically fly in the evening, hovering over flowers. 5).īoth moths have long, coiled, tube-like mouthparts, which are used to extract nectar. On the abdomen are six yellow spots along each side (Fig. The wings are narrow with a gray, brown, and white pattern. The Carolina sphinx moth (tobacco hornworm) has a wingspan up to 4 inches (10 cm). The moth’s abdomen is brown and white with a row of five yellow spots along each side (Fig. The wings are gray and brown with large front wings and small hind wings marked with a zigzag pattern. 2).Īt the adult stage, the five-spotted hawkmoth (tomato hornworm) has a wingspan of up to 5 inches (13 cm). The tobacco hornworm is also green, but has seven diagonal white stripes with black margins along its body, and a distinctive orange-red tail spine (Fig. At the end of its abdomen is a notable black tail spine (Fig. The tomato hornworm is green with eight, white “V” markings along its back, pointing toward the head.

Larvae of both species have five pairs of prolegs (fleshy abdominal limbs of a caterpillar), are a cylindrical shape, and are 4 inches long at maturity. Additionally, tobacco is also targeted by tobacco hornworm. Host plants of both species include members of the Solanaceae family such as tomato, pepper, potato, eggplant, along with various nightshade flowering plants. Tomato and tobacco hornworms can both be found throughout Utah attacking host plants.

Tomato hornworms are the larval stage of the fivespotted hawkmoth (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms are the larval stage of the Carolina sphinx moth (Manduca sexta). Both are equivalent in size and appearance. Tomato and tobacco hornworms are closely related species that cause similar damage to the same host plants.

In Utah, hornworms reach peak population in mid-summer.

Hornworms are managed by careful monitoring, hand-picking, and insecticides.

Hornworms feed on leaves, stems, blossoms, and fruits of host plants.

Tomato and tobacco hornworms are the larval stages of the five-spotted hawk moth and Carolina sphinx moth.

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