Species · GBIF taxon 1863978
Tobacco Hornworm
Manduca sextaAlso known as Carolina Sphinx Moth, Six-spotted Sphinx
These massive green caterpillars feature seven diagonal white stripes along their sides and a characteristic red horn on their rear. As adults, they transform into Carolina sphinx moths, heavy-bodied nocturnal fliers that hover like hummingbirds to sip nectar from deep-throated flowers. They tolerate and sequester high concentrations of toxic nicotine from their nightshade host plants, rendering them unpalatable to many predators.
NocturnalCamouflagedAgricultural Pest
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tomato Leaves
- Tobacco Leaves
- Nectar
Predators
- Braconid Wasps
- Insectivorous Birds
- Small Mammals
ThreatsPesticides, parasitic wasps, and tilling of soil
HabitatsAgricultural fields, vegetable gardens, disturbed areas, and open woodlands
Life span30 to 50 days from egg to adult
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySphingidae
- SpeciesManduca sexta
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to handle, as the horn is soft and cannot sting.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Larvae: Look for defoliated stems and dark green, barrel-shaped droppings on the ground beneath nightshade plants.
- Handling: Gently pick them up from the sides; they may thrash or spit dark green fluid but are completely harmless.
- Watching Adults: Plant deep-throated flowers like petunias or moonflowers to attract the hovering moths at dusk.
Parasite 
Close Relative "Tomato Hornworm" by Hillbraith is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0Close Relative
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