Tomato Hornworm
Manduca quinquemaculata
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameTomato Hornworm
DescriptionTomato hornworms are giant green caterpillars that can defoliate entire plants overnight. Learn to spot these camouflaged pests and remove them safely.
TypeInsect
FamilySphingidae
GenusManduca
TribeSphingini
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumArthropoda
SubphylumHexapoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
SubfamilySphinginae
Features
- Named 'hornworm' for the distinctive black, horn-like projection on the rear end. Transforms into the five-spotted hawk moth
- Large, bright green caterpillar with white V-shaped markings along sides and a prominent black horn at rear. Can be confused with tobacco hornworm which has red horn
- Feed voraciously on leaves, stems, and green fruits of tomato plants. Can strip entire plants in days. Also attack flowers and developing fruit
- Cause rapid defoliation with large sections of leaves consumed. Leave dark green droppings on leaves and ground. Can completely strip tomato plants
- Adults lay single eggs on leaf undersides. Caterpillars feed for 4 weeks before burrowing into soil to pupate. One to two generations per year
- Grow up to 10 cm (4 inches) long. Among the largest caterpillars found in gardens. Well-camouflaged despite their size
- Most active in warm summer months. Feed primarily at night but also during day. Prefer hot weather
- Attack tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, and tobacco. Occasionally feed on other nightshade family plants
- Prevent by tilling soil in fall to destroy pupae, using row covers, inspecting plants regularly, and planting companion plants like marigolds and basil
- Natural predators include parasitic braconid wasps (leave white cocoons on caterpillars), birds, and ground beetles. Handpick caterpillars. Treat with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificManduca quinquemaculata
English (Alternate)Five Spotted Hawkmoth, Tobacco Hornworm, Hornworm, Goliath worm
Hindiटोमेटो होर्नवोर्म (Tomato Hornworm)
Tamilவல்லூறு அந்துப்பூச்சி (Vallūṟu antuppūcci), புகையிலை கொம்போக்கிரி (Pukaiyilai Kombokkiri)
Teluguటೊಮಾटो కొమ్ము పురుగు (Tomato kommupurugu), పొగాకు కొమ్ము పురుగు (Pōgāku Kommu Purugu)
Malayalamತಕ್ಕಾಲಿಯಿಲೆ ಪುಳು (Thakkāḷiyile puḻu)
Kannadaಪುಕ್ಕು (puzhukku)
Sanskritರಕ್ತಫಲ-ಪತಗ (raktaphala-pataga)
Bengaliಟೊಮೆಟೊ ಹಾರ್ನ್ವರ್ಮ್ (Tomato Hornworm), ಮತ್ ಶುಯಾಪೋಕ Five-spotted Hawkmoth caterpillar)
Frenchsphinx de la tomate
Russianಬ್ರಾಜ್ನಿಕ್ ಟೊಮಾಟ್ನಿ (brazhnik tomatnyy), ಬ್ರಾಜ್ನಿಕ್ ತಬಾಚ್ನಿ (brazhnik tabachnyy)
Spanishgusano cachudo del tabaco
GermanGroßer Tabakschwärmer
