Carolina sphinx, tobacco hornworm moth (Manduca sexta) | Project Noah

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Photo by GraceWhite

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Description:

Large moth visiting my garden at dusk, especially the four-o'clock flowers. I wondered if it was a hornworm. I've had tobacco hornworm caterpillars on my tomatoes lately. It was the size of a hummingbird.

Reference Links:

Manduca sexta

Species ID Suggestions

Carolina Sphinx

Manduca sexta

2

Comments (2)

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Thank you for the ID, Graham.

It appears to be a Carolina Sphinx or Six-Spotted Hawkmoth, named for the six yellow spots on either side of the abdomen. You were correct in that its larvae were tobacco hornworms. Sphinx moths, particularly this species, are wonderful fliers for their hovering capabilities.

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