Tobacco Hornworm

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in gardens, agricultural fields, and areas where host plants from the Solanaceae family grow. They are widespread across North, Central, and South America.

Diet & Feeding

As caterpillars, they primarily feed on the leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants in the Solanaceae family, including tobacco, tomato, potato, eggplant, and pepper. Adults (moths) feed on nectar from various flowers.

Behavior Patterns

Tobacco hornworms are highly destructive pests, especially during their larval (caterpillar) stage. They are voracious eaters and can defoliate plants quickly. They often feed at night or during cooler parts of the day and can be well-camouflaged among the foliage due to their green coloration. When disturbed, they may rear their front end upwards in a Sphinx-like pose. The adults (moths) are nocturnal and feed on nectar from flowers.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant damage and defoliation of cultivated plants, particularly tomatoes and tobacco, leading to crop loss for gardeners and farmers. There are no known direct benefits like pollination as the adults are not primary pollinators of agricultural crops; however, they do contribute to the ecosystem by being a food source for birds and parasitic wasps.

Identified on: 8/9/2025