There’s More Than One kind of Hornworm – Don’t Kill the Good Ones
Don’t kill that hummingbird moth caterpillar – it is NOT the tomato enemy you might think it is. In this article we ferret through the understandable confusion on this topic of hornworms and exactly which moths do — and do not — come from the dreaded tomato hornworm caterpillar (aka larva).
There’s much confusion and misinformation on which moths and which larva are of the tomato hornworm lineage. In fact, we had an erroneous image in this article, which we have since changed and cleared up thanks to assistance from GardensAll Facebook readers Marcia King, Rachel Rose and Jetsun Kane).
We learned that the caterpillars we were pulling off our tomato plants were actually the tobacco hornworm. The hornworms can look very similar to each other, but with subtle differences.
The bottom line is that both the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm attack tomatoes and other nightshade plants, but the hummingbird moth larva does not.
A Tale of Two (or More) Caterpillars
We’re dealing with three (or more)different caterpillars. One is good for your garden, Hemaris spp., the others are not, especially if you’re growing tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, or eggplant.
- Tobacco hornworms have diagonal line markings down the length of the sides of their bodies
- Tomato hornworms have V-shaped markings down the length of the sides of their bodies ,
- The hummingbird moth has dots but not lines or V’s.
Every year we go through this conversation that begins with people talking about hating to kill the tomato hornworms because they love the hummingbird moths. Or worse… killing the hummingbird moths so they won’t turn into — what some believe to be — the tomato hornworm.
A flood of comments ensue on what people do — or do not do — to these, but one thing in common is that many people in these conversation threads are convinced that the tomato hornworm turns into the hummingbird moth.
TRUTH: The tomato hornworm does not turn into a hummingbird moth.
Wrongly Accused and Condemned
The hummingbird moth caterpillar is often mistaken for the tomato hornworm. However, it’s a case of mistaken identification. The problem is that both are called hornworms because both are caterpillars with horns.
The devastating tomato hornworm and tobacco hornworm grow up to be a very different kind of moth than the hummingbird moth. The tomato hornworm DOES NOT become the much beloved pollinator known as the Hummingbird Moth.
FACT: The tomato hornworm DOES NOT become the hummingbird moth, Hemaris diffinis.
The Hummingbird Moth – Hemaris Diffinis – The GOOD Horned Caterpillar
The Hummingbird moth, Hemaris diffinis, has clear wings, giving it the common name of clearwing moth.
Hummingbird Moth Latin Name
Hemaris diffinis
Hummingbird Moth Common Names
- Clearwing Moth
- Hummingbird Moth
Hummingbird Moth Caterpillar — Hemaris spp. – Do NOT KILL THIS CATERPILLAR!!!
The hornworm caterpillar grows up to be the lovely hummingbird moth. This is NOT the tobacco or tomato hornworm, though it’s a common mistake to assume it is.
Please careful note the difference between the two caterpillars. You will see them side-by-side further below.
Hummingbird Moth – Hemaris Diffinis
The Dreaded Horned Caterpillars:
Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar – Manduca quinquemaculata, and also the Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillar
Neither of these nemesis to gardeners and farmers become the lovely hummingbird moth. The tomato hornworms and the tobacco hornworms do NOT grow up to become the hummingbird moth.
That’s a common myth and misunderstanding. When we first posted this, that’s what we thought too. But it’s not so. See the photo comparisons below.
The confusion is understandable, because both kinds of caterpillars are horned and look a lot alike. The good news is that with a little bit of study and memorization of details, you will be able to know the difference when you see them in the garden.
The tomato hornworms and the tobacco hornworms do NOT grow up to become the hummingbird moth.
The Dreaded Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar Becomes the 5 Spotted Hawk Moth, NOT the Hummingbird Moth!
The tomato hornworm caterpillar is a beautiful specimen of a moth, commonly called Five Spotted Hawk Moth. The botanical name for the tomato hornworm is Manduca quinquemaculata.
However, it’s former incarnation is an unwelcome garden tomato nemesis: the tomato hornworm. The 5 spotted hawk moth, or
What Do Tomato Hornworms Turn Into? The 5 Spotted Hawk Moth, Manduca quinquemaculata
