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Tobacco hornworm

Manduca sexta

Photo by R R
Published on Project Noah
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41.3673, -72.2247

Field Notes

Description:

this is a tobacco hornworm and the white things on its back are the cocoon of wasps. the wasp lays its eggs inside the worm and when they hatch, they eat it from the inside out.

Habitat:

tomato plants, gardens

Notes:

i found this in my garden crawling along one of the tomato plants.

Species ID Suggestions

Carolina Sphinx (Tobacco Hornworm)

Manduca sexta

Reference Link
ForestDragon
1

Comments (1)
ForestDragon
Despite their name, Tobacco Hornworms also feed on tomato plants. Those white things on the caterpillar are actually cocoons from the parasitic wasp larva. They will hatch out of the tops of them. Interesting find for sure, not so lucky for the caterpillar!

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2011 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedJuly 1, 2011

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