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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Sphinginae » Sphingini » Manduca » Five-spotted Hawk Moth - Hodges#7776 (Manduca quinquemaculatus)
Photo#65586
Is this a Tomato Caterpillar. It was on our tomatoes. - Manduca quinquemaculatus
Copyright © 2006 Lu Miltona

Is this a Tomato Caterpillar. It was on our tomatoes. - Manduca quinquemaculatus
Douglas County, Minnesota, USA
July 18, 2006
Size: 4-5 in.long 1/2 in across
This was on our tomatoes and doesn't look like any I saw in the bug guide pictures.
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Contributed by Lu Miltona on 21 July, 2006 - 8:07am
Last updated 14 October, 2006 - 7:19am

Moved
Moved from Sphinx Moths.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 14 October, 2006 - 7:19am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Butterflies and Moths.
… john and jane balaban, 13 October, 2006 - 8:32pm login or register to post comments

Tomato Hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata
We see this less often than its close relative the so-called Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta), which also eats tomatoes. You can tell this one by the v-shaped stripes.

Compare below and see guide:

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 21 July, 2006 - 8:17am login or register to post comments

 
If you don't want him on your tomatos
You can move him to any member of the nightshade family. He will eat ground cherry, or deadly nightshade, or horsenettle.
… john and jane balaban, 21 July, 2006 - 9:02am login or register to post comments

 
Although...
I believe that the larger the caterpillar, the less likely it is he'll move happily to another hostplant. This one is pretty close to pupation, judging by the size.

I tolerate hornworms on my tomatoes - cardinals get most of them and the few that are left are fun to see.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 21 July, 2006 - 9:52am login or register to post comments

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