Tomato hornworm vs Tobacco hornworm
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a tomato hornworm from a tobacco hornworm, and whether either one bites or stings.
Tomato hornworm
Manduca quinquemaculata
Tobacco hornworm
Manduca sexta
≠The key differences
Tobacco hornworm has seven diagonal white stripes edged with black (instead of V-shaped marks) and usually a red horn; adult moths have six rather than five pairs of yellow abdominal spots.
Tomato hornworm (M. quinquemaculata) has V-shaped or angled white markings and typically a black or dark horn; tobacco hornworm (M. sexta) has diagonal white stripes and usually a red horn.
⚖︎Side by side
| Tomato hornworm | Tobacco hornworm | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Size | Wingspan 10-12 cm (adult moth); larva 70-100 mm when fully grown | 9-12 cm wingspan |
| Colours | Green, Pale white (markings), Gray-brown (adult moth), Black (larval horn) | Green, Pale cream, Red (horn), Gray-brown |
| Family | Sphingidae | Sphingidae |
| Habitat | Gardens, fields and weedy edges where host plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) grow, including cultivated and wild solanaceous plants. | Gardens, agricultural fields and wild areas where host plants (Solanaceae) grow; adults visit nectar-rich flowers at night. |
| Range | Widespread across much of North America where tomatoes and other solanaceous plants are grown. | Widespread in North, Central and South America; common across the United States where host crops are grown. |
| Active | Larvae are most active during the growing season (spring through late summer); adults fly at dusk and night. | Spring to autumn (multiple generations in warm areas); caterpillars feed mainly by day while adults are primarily nocturnal. |
| Pest? | Yes | Yes |
🔍How to spot a tomato hornworm
- Large green caterpillar 70-100 mm long with smooth skin and eight white V-shaped (chevron) markings along each side.
- Distinctive pointed horn on the posterior end (not a stinger) — horn color typically dark to blackish.
- Presence of white, small, cocooned wasp pupae (clusters of tiny white cocoons) on the caterpillar indicates parasitism and should be left alone.
🔍How to spot a tobacco hornworm
- Large green caterpillar with diagonal pale stripes on each segment and a conspicuous rear horn that is usually red.
- Full-grown larvae reach 8-10 cm and have smooth skin without hairs.
- Adult moths are robust with a 90-120 mm wingspan, gray-brown mottled forewings and a long proboscis.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tomato hornworm and a tobacco hornworm?
Tobacco hornworm has seven diagonal white stripes edged with black (instead of V-shaped marks) and usually a red horn; adult moths have six rather than five pairs of yellow abdominal spots. Tomato hornworm (M. quinquemaculata) has V-shaped or angled white markings and typically a black or dark horn; tobacco hornworm (M. sexta) has diagonal white stripes and usually a red horn.
Is a tomato hornworm or a tobacco hornworm more dangerous?
Tomato hornworm: Non-toxic. Tobacco hornworm: Non-toxic. Tomato hornworms do not sting or inject venom. Neither the caterpillars nor adults are venomous.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.