Page 460 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION North and South America, from Canada to Argentina and
the Caribbean

HABITAT Wide variety, including vegetable patches and tobacco elds
HOST PLANTS Solanaceae, such as tobacco (Nicotiana spp.), Tomato (Solanum
lycopersicum), and Datura spp.
NOTE Caterpillar that is used as a model organism in biological sciences
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common

ADULT WINGSPAN
4 in (100 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2¾ in (70 mm)
MANDUCA SEXTA
TOBACCO HORNWORM
458
(LINNAEUS, 1763)

Tobacco Hornworm caterpillars normally develop through ve

larval instars but may molt additional times if the nutritional
value of their food is poor. Mature larvae wander, change
color, and lose excess liquid before pupation, which occurs
in an underground chamber; as with most other sphinx moths,
no cocoon is made. The life cycle can be completed within
50 days but is often longer because many pupae will enter
diapause during hot summer months. There may be up to four

The Tobacco Hornworm caterpillar is cryptically generations annually in Florida, but the average over the species’
colored overall green with white diagonal range is two.
markings edged in black. When not feeding, it
assumes a sphinxlike posture, with the head and
thorax held upward. Although similar to other
Manduca species, such as the Tomato Hornworm Manduca sexta caterpillars feeding on toxic plants such as tobacco
(M. quinquemaculata), the caterpillar can be may be better protected from predators than those feeding
distinguished by its seven diagonal lines and red
or rust-colored posterior horn. It has white true on less toxic species, such as Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).
legs, banded in black at the joints, green prolegs,
a green head, and pronounced spiracles, which They are frequently parasitized by the gregarious braconid
are white or yellow with a black center. wasp Cotesia congregata, whose larvae feed unseen within the
caterpillar, emerging from the body to spin their cocoons, which
hang as clusters off their host. Because it is large and easily
raised on an artificial diet, the Tobacco Hornworm is often
used in developmental and genetic research and has contributed

signi cant insights into the mysteries of metamorphosis.

Actual size