The Five-spotted Hawkmoth Caterpillar - Nature 94

We observed a big caterpillar in one of our tomatoes plants this morning. The caterpillar eats a lot of the tomato plant’s leaves.

Image 1- A big caterpillar on tomato's leaves

The caterpillar is a quite big, the length size might be 3 inches or 7.6 cm. The color is green with stripes, and a black horn on the tail.

Based on the GoogleID, this caterpillar belongs to the five-spotted hawkmoth caterpillar or also called as a tomato hornworm.

It is said that the caterpillar is commonly seen in the garden. In addition to tomatoes. It loves peppers and potatoes leaves.

Unfortunately, this caterpillar might be a plant pest. It is because it could consume great number of leaves.

Image 2- A green stripes caterpillar

In case of tomatoes, the five-spotted hawkmoth caterpillars can also destroy tomato fruit by boring into the fruit.

Image 3- The caterpillar consumed a lot.

When getting larger and larger at last stage devolvement, the caterpillar could eat an entire tomato plant within minutes.

Image 4- A caterpillar is moving under tomato branches.

Have you ever seen this kind of caterpillar?

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