Tobacco Hornworm - Manduca sexta - Six Spotted Hawkmoth is a photograph by Carol Senske which was uploaded on July 13th, 2013.
Tobacco Hornworm - Manduca sexta - Six Spotted Hawkmoth
The only way I know how to differentiate this caterpillar from the Tomato Hornworm is by the color of their horn. If black, it is the Tomato... more
by Carol Senske
Title
Tobacco Hornworm - Manduca sexta - Six Spotted Hawkmoth
Artist
Carol Senske
Medium
Photograph
Description
The only way I know how to differentiate this caterpillar from the Tomato Hornworm is by the color of their "horn". If black, it is the Tomato variety; if red, it is the Tobacco variety. This caterpillar is pretty big and I'm betting on it being the Tobacco Hornworm. Cute caterpillar:>) The horn here is red.
They are considered pests of the plants in the nightshade family or Petunias, too. We do pick hem off our tomato plants and try to find something wild for them to chow down on, like nightshade. More often than not we see the eggs of a Braconidae wasp on the more grown up caterpillars, so many do not survive to adulthood in our area.
Here is a bit of a write up on them:
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/hornworm.htm
Uploaded
July 13th, 2013
Comments (14)
Conni Schaftenaar
such a gorgeous caterpillar, too bad it's sooooo destructive! At least, the tomato variety is! Assuming the tobacco variety is equally voracious. nice shot, Carol!
Carol Senske replied:
I've been picking them off the tomatoes - some are quite large already. These both will eat like pigs! LOL Thank you for the visit and comment.
Bette Devine
Is it OK to call it (him?) cute? I have never seen such a fascinating caterpillar! Great shot, Carol - you are so good at finding little creatures :)
Carol Senske replied:
People freak out when they find them eating their tomato plants, but I try to relocate them. It's hard to find the right food plant. They are handsome, don't you think?
Doris Potter
What a beauty! Great find and image Mother Nature.
Carol Senske replied:
Hi, Doris! So nice to see you here. I hope your holidays are the best! Christmas seems to be an on-rushing freight train this year - LOL. Thank you for visiting and commenting.
Linda Howes
He's so cute Mother nature! Nicely captured! l/f
Carol Senske replied:
Thank you! I like them but my husband . . . not so much:>) Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, Linda!
Jeanette Brown
What a cool looking little guy! v
Carol Senske replied:
Thanks a million, Jeanette:>). They are truly lovely creatures. Thanks for the vote, too!
Bob Orsillo
I love this guy! I say guy because of the pose :).But I guess he is not popular in some circles .. Their design is very interesting. VFT Interesting description.
Carol Senske replied:
He's really handsome (and a bit horny), but I guess that goes with being a guy - LOL. We are getting as many of these fellas as we have tomatoes growing. If we left them on the plants there would be no leaves! I haven't seen any that are parasitized, which is a bit unusual - I prefer to let nature take care of the population and I hate taking them off and putting them in the weeds just hoping they find food. Thanks a zillion and one for the VFT and the lovely comment:>)
Lianne Schneider
I just hate that I get so far behind so fast!! Carol this is a fabulous macro - fantastic detail!! F/V
Carol Senske replied:
Well, Lianne. I am now so far behind I think I'm ahead! Somehow I need to organize but so far no luck! I'm behind and that's all there is to it - maybe someday I'll be caught up bu that seems to be wishful thinking. Thank you for this lovely, lovely compliment and the V/F.
Mother Nature
Many thanks for giving this guy a feature in Macro Photography - I'm delighted! This is a wonderful group with so much talent:>)
Valerie Anne Kelly
Beautiful & a 5 ***** fave :~} ♥
Carol Senske replied:
They really are, even of they do eat tomato plants:>) Thank you, Hon, for dropping by and commenting.