Caterpillars hatch from the eggs in about 7 days and caterpillars develop through five stages (instars) for 3 to 4 weeks until they pupate 3 to 4 inches deep in the soil. Female moths deposit greenish-yellow eggs single on the undersides of host plant leaves. The moth’s abdomen is marked with five pairs of orange-yellow spots. They are large-bodied moths with a 4 to 5 inch wingspan that resemble humming birds in flight as they hover around flowers from which they obtain nectar at dusk. The pupa is about 2 inches long, dark brown in color and spindle-shaped, with the encased mouthparts prominent and separated from the body, appearing like a handle. Life Cycle: The winter is spent as a pupa in the soil. Adults of the tobacco hornworm have differently patterned hind wings and 6 pairs of orange-yellow spots along the abdomen. The tobacco hornworm larva differs in that the white diagonal (appearing as “/” marks with the head to the left) stripes on the sides of the body appear as “ /” marks. The tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Linnaeus), is very similar to the tomato hornworm in biology and the two species may be found together. There are a number of common hawkmoths or sphinx moths in Texas. Scientific Name: Manduca quinquemaculata (Haworth)ĭescription: Caterpillars can reach 3 to 4 inches in length, are green with prominent diagonal white stripes along the sides of the body and a black-colored “horn” on the back end. Tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), adult. Tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), caterpillar.
0 kommentar(er)
