The Transformation of Hornworms: What Do Hornworms Turn Into?

Do hornworms turn into butterflies? What do hornworms turn into? We look at answers to these questions in the article below.

There are many types of Hornworms, but the most common moths found in gardens are tomato and tobacco hornworms. Hornworms are also known as hawk moths or hummingbird moths. 

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!

The female moths lay eggs on leaves that hatch to produce larvae or caterpillars. The caterpillar turns into pupae which in turn transform into moths with beautiful wings. Hornworms are nothing but the caterpillar stage of hawk moths.

Yes, after the pupa stage, hornworms transform into hummingbird moths. From a distance, these moths look very similar to tiny hummingbirds, which is why the insects are called “hummingbird moths.” 

One of the reasons behind their name is their long proboscis, through which they suck in nectar from flowers. This proboscis can be as long as 14 inches. 

When these large insects hover near the flowers, their proboscis looks similar to hummingbirds’ beak from a distant place. 

Hornworm caterpillars are also known as sphinx worms due to the way they sit on leaves. They raise their head like a sphinx when they get startled or feel threatened.

Do Hornworms Turn Into Butterflies?

Hornworms follow a similar life cycle as butterflies, but they aren’t butterflies! They turn into winged moths, and their wings have beautiful designs on them. 

From a distance, you might mistake a hornworm moth for a butterfly. But the two species of insects are entirely different, and it’s just a misconception that Hornworms turn into butterflies.

Do you want to know the secret to transform your backyard into a haven for birds and butterflies? If so, then check this course out!

What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into?

Tomato hornworms turn into large moths with colorful wings, about two to eight inches wide. The colors can be anything from golden to brown to grey and even pink.

Tomato hornworms are one of the largest caterpillars in the world. These pests are notorious for eating tomato plants and other crops of the nightshade family, including eggplants, tuber, and pepper. 

Female moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. These eggs hatch and transform into inches-long caterpillars in around three to four weeks. They continue to grow bigger and longer, feasting on leaves until they reach a length of about 4 inches.

Then the caterpillars leave the plants and fall down into the soil. The moths emerge out of the pupae after two to three weeks. After coming out as moths, they prepare for reproduction and producing the next generation.

 

What Do Green Hornworms Turn Into?

There are two common types of hornworms: Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both worm species are green in color in their caterpillar stage but transform into moths of different colors. 

The key difference, as the name suggests, is that tobacco hornworms prefer to feast on the leaves of the tobacco plant.

Like tomato hornworms, tobacco hornworms also pupate on the surface of the soil around tobacco plants. Tobacco moths emerge out of the pupae during May and June. 

Tobacco moths have gray-colored wings, and the upper end is grayish brown. They also have two light bands on each forewing. The wingspan of the tobacco moth is much smaller: it is only about 5/8th of an inch wide.

Once they emerge out of the pupae, they turn into moths and mate to reproduce further generations of the hornworms. 

What Do Blue Hornworms Turn Into?

Like green hornworms, blue hornworms also turn into moths because they are one and the same! The difference in color is because of what they are eating. Green hornworms can even be transformed into blue ones by changing their diet. 

For those who are a bit scientifically minded, green hornworms are green because two pigments in their bodies combine to give them this color.

Hemocyanin is a blue pigment that is the equivalent of hemoglobin present in humans. Xanthophyll is a yellow toxin produced when they eat the leaves of nightshade plants like tomatoes or tobacco. And as any artist knows, blue and yellow combine to make green!

So, when these insects eat a diet that does not contain tomato, tobacco, or any vegetable of the Solanaceae family, they don’t get the yellow component that makes their characteristic green color. 

As an aside, the color green is a natural way to camouflage themselves in the wild; it is not by accident that they turn green. 

 

How Long Does It Take for a Hornworm to Pupate?

The life cycle of a hornworm has four major stages:

Egg

After mating, the female moth lays eggs under the leaves. The eggs are small, smooth, and green. The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and usually take three days to hatch. 

Larva (Caterpillar)

Once the egg gets hatched, the hornworm caterpillars stay on the same leaf and feed on them to grow into a larger form known as instars. This is their larval stage. 

Throughout their growth, they keep moving across their host plant, eating different parts to survive. This is an adaptive strategy that helps avoid wasting energy in finding a reliable source of food. They grow till they are about 4 to 5 inches long.

After 3 to 4 weeks of growing, they drop off leaves and move to the next stage of the lifecycle. 

Pupa

The hornworms drop to the soil and burrow in it to transform into pupae. The caterpillars are dark green, while the pupae are deep reddish-brown. 

Hornworms remain inside the soil in the form of pupae for about two weeks and remain there until they are grown to emerge out of the pupa as adult moths. 

Adult

Adult moths emerge pupae with beautifully patterned wings that suck nectar from flowers. The adult life of the moths is spent on mating and reproduction. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long does it take a hornworm to turn into a moth?

The caterpillar form of a hornworm becomes fully grown in about three to four weeks. Then they drop off to soil from the plant leaves and become pupae. 

They remain as pupae for two weeks until they emerge as adult moths. So, hornworms take approximately five to seven weeks to grow into adult forms. 

Can you keep a hornworm as a pet?

Hornworms are usually not kept as pets. People use them as feeders for reptile pets. You can raise hornworms for feeding at home by following a proper diet to avoid toxin synthesis in their bodies. You also need to make sure you provide proper sunlight and optimum temperature.

Can hornworms hurt you?

Hornworms are harmless to humans other than being greedy pests of tomato plants. Hornworms do not bite or sting humans, so they cannot harm you. Their horns are weak and harmless too.

What animal eats hornworms?

Most reptiles feed on hornworms, such as bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and Uromastyx. Some amphibians and arthropods (insects), such as tarantulas and scorpions, feed on the worms.  

Wrap Up

Hornworms transform into moths by starting as eggs, turning into caterpillars, pupae, and finally, adult moths. The entire journey from egg to moth is fascinating. It is interesting to note the various adaptations these bugs have taken to avoid getting eaten by predators.

Thank you for reading!