Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillar

There were about four of these caterpillars on my Grandad and Nana's tomato bush today.

The Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillar (Manduca Sexta) is very similar to, and often mistaken for, the Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar (Manduca Quinquemaculata). Both species eat the leaves of tobacco, tomato, and other various types of plants. They both turn into moths.

Tobacco Hornworms have seven diagonal lines and a red horn, while the Tomato has eight V-shaped lines and a black horn.

The Tobacco Caterpillar also has a mechanism to selectively secrete the neurotoxin nicotine, found in tobacco.









































And yes, that is it's poop.





















~Avery