Tobacco Hornworm

Subject:  Tomato Hornworm?
Geographic location of the bug:  Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
Date: 10/19/2017
Time: 11:10 AM EDT
Hi, I found this in my garden, used your site to identify it being a tomato hornworm, and wanted to forward you the photos.  Have a great day!
How you want your letter signed:  Joe B.

Tobacco Hornworm

Dear Joe,
The average gardener probably doesn’t care that this is actually a Tobacco Hornworm,
Manduca sexta, since it looks so similar to a Tomato Hornworm and both species feed on the leaves and fruit of tomatoes and related plants in the garden.  According to BugGuide:  “Larva: large green body; dorsal “horn” (usually curved and orange, pink or red) on terminal abdominal segment; up to seven oblique whitish lateral lines, edged with black on upper borders.   The similar looking Tomato Hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata, has eight v-shaped stripes and a straight blue-black horn. These caterpillars are often confused and misidentified.”

Tobacco Hornworm

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