Hornworm larvae use their chewing mouthparts to feed primarily on leaves but will also eat blossoms, stems, and fruits. There are one to two generations per year in Utah. Tomato hornworms spend the winter as pupae in the soil. In the summer, adult moths will emerge after about 3 weeks and begin the cycle again. Larvae feed for 3 to 4 weeks and then burrow 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) deep into the soil to pupate. Larvae prefer tomato and tobacco, but will feed on eggplant, pepper, potato, and some species of Solanum weeds. Hornworm larvae emerge from eggs after 2-8 days, depending on temperature, and begin feeding.
Heavy egg deposition is common late in the summer and early fall. Females deposit eggs individually on the undersides of host plant leaves. They can be seen hovering above flowers of dusk-blooming plants resembling hummingbirds in flight.
Adult moths use their long, coiled, tubelike mouthparts to imbibe nectar from flowers. Life HistoryĪdults of tomato hornworm, also known as the fivespotted hawk moth, begin to emerge in late spring to early summer. A sheath for the mouthparts projects from the head and curves downward extending about 1/3 of the body and resembles the handle of a pitcher. Pupa: Dark brown, elongate-oval with pointed posterior 1.8 to 2.4 inches (45 to 60 mm) in length. Black pointed structure, “horn”, located on the terminal abdominal segment. Green body with eight white “v” shaped marks along each side. Larva: Cylindrical with five pairs of prolegs and three pairs of thoracic legs, and 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) in length.
Forewings are longer than hind wings hind wings have two narrow, dark, zigzag, diagonal lines running across the center.Įgg: Spherical to oval in shape, 1/16 inch (1.60 mm) in diameter, and vary in color from light green turning to white as they mature. Sides of abdomen have 5 orangeyellow spots. Adult: Grayish-brown in color with a wing span of 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm).
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