description Five-spotted hawk-moth Overview
The five-spotted hawk-moth, Manduca quinquemaculata, is a large North American sphingid moth named for the paired yellow markings along the sides of its abdomen. Its larva is the tomato hornworm, a green caterpillar that feeds on plants in the nightshade family, including tomato, tobacco, and potato, and can become an agricultural or garden pest. Adults are strong nocturnal fliers that visit flowers and obtain nectar with a long proboscis.
help Five-spotted hawk-moth FAQ
Why is it called the five-spotted hawk-moth?
The name refers to the paired yellow markings along the sides of the adult moth's abdomen. Its scientific name is Manduca quinquemaculata, and it is a large North American sphingid.
What is a tomato hornworm?
The tomato hornworm is the larval stage of Manduca quinquemaculata. It is a green caterpillar that feeds on nightshade-family plants, especially tomato plants.
Does the five-spotted hawk-moth damage tomato plants?
Its caterpillars can strip leaves from tomato and related crops when populations are high. The larvae also feed on other Solanaceae, including plants related to potato, pepper, and tobacco.
How does the adult five-spotted hawk-moth behave?
Adults are strong-flying hawk moths that are often active around dusk and at night. They use a long proboscis to drink nectar from flowers, while the caterpillars do the plant feeding.
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