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Tobacco Hornworm

Manduca sexta

Photo by SteveJones
Published on Project Noah
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34.056, -84.1959

Field Notes

Description:

Green caterpillar. Burrowing into the ground. It was about the size of a finger. It appeared to be spinning around and around, as you can see from the dirt around it.

Habitat:

Red clay.

Notes:

My students saw this on the playground. Any idea?

Species ID Suggestions

Tobacco Hornworm

Manduca sexta

Reference Link
eelhsamarie
2

Comments (1)
Aaron_G
Typically, when you see a caterpillar on the ground, it's either been knocked out of its host plant or is on its way to pupate. Since it's a caterpillar of good size and it's late summer, this one was most certainly trying to find a good place to make its cocoon so it could pupate and transform into an adult (moth). I've moved this one over to Arthropods for you.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wildlife of the South East, USA

Tags

Photographed
PublishedSeptember 4, 2013

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