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Tobacco hornworm

Photo by r.glide
Published on Project Noah
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Species ID Suggestions

Tobacco Hornworm

Manduca sexta

Reference Link
Dan Doucette
3

Comments (6)
Dan Doucette
Yes, you're right, mine too. Most of the images online I saw were very similar. They were possibly misidentified. This image clearly shows the difference with the V and the black horn. http://images.google.com/imgres?q=manduca+quinquemaculata&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=680&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=zlT63AEd3bHpJM:&imgrefurl=http://bugguide.net/node/view/36844&docid=bvT041DbRUeOiM&imgurl=http://bugguide.net/images/raw/CKXKCK0KPKRKO06Q6KLK1KGKAKUQ1K7KRS9QJ0BQZS7KVKIKPK8QPKGQV0HKV0ZKT0EQ9KZKB00K.jpg&w=558&h=307&ei=jriYTqnnHrHC0AHIoLTlBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=556&vpy=186&dur=17&hovh=166&hovw=303&tx=133&ty=123&sig=109161674082504177619&page=1&tbnh=114&tbnw=208&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0
r.glide
Hmmm. My reference indicated that the lines on the tomato hornworm were V-shaped.
Dan Doucette
Yes, they both have the 7 lines. They are remarkably similar. The horn at the rear seems to set them apart. My guide states M. sexta has red horn, like this one, and M. quinquemaculata has a black horn.
r.glide
That's funny, Sarah. As it turns out, tobacco hornworms are known to enjoy eating tomatoes as well as tobacco. The seven lines on the body are the distinguishing features.
SarahWhitt
I think this one is a Tomato Hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata) only because of the piece of tomato he's munching on ;)
khabele_Jack
It looks like a large Mailman Caterpillar it is going to turn into a butterfly soon
Photographed
PublishedOctober 14, 2011

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