Biology lesson for today

"The Tomato Hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata (Lepidoptera Sphingidae) is native to the United States. Tomato hornworms feed only on solanaceous (related to the potato family) plants, most often on tomato. However, larvae will also attack eggplant, pepper and potato. There are also many solanaceous weeds that also serve as alternate hosts, including Horsenettle, jimsonweed and nightshade. They do not typically reach economically damaging levels on commercial farms, but large numbers of larvae can sporadically occur in home gardens.

The adult moth, sometimes referred to as a "sphinx", "hawk", or "hummingbird" moth, is a large, heavy-bodied moth with narrow front wings. The moth is a mottled gray-brown color with yellow spots on the sides of the abdomen and a wing spread of 4 to 5 inches. The hindwings have alternating light and dark bands.

Eggs of the tomato hornworm are deposited singly on the surface of leaves in late spring. The eggs hatch in six to eight days and are oval, smooth, light green to yellow in color.

Larvae are pale green with white and black markings and undergo 5-6 instars. The first instar is yellow to white in color with no markings. Later instars develop eight white, lateral "v-shaped" marks. A black projection or "horn" on the last abdominal segment gives the caterpillar the name "hornworm".

The caterpillar reaches the final instar in 3-4 weeks, and is 3-1/2 to 4 inches when fully mature. Fully-grown larvae then drop off of the plants and burrow into the soil to pupate. During the summer months, moths will emerge from pupae in about 2 weeks. Moths emerge from the soil, mate, and then begin to deposit the eggs of the next generation on tomato plants. By early fall, the pupae will remain in the soil all winter and emerge as a moth the following spring. The larva is the damaging stage." www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/hornworm.htm

The first time I noticed a "hummingbird" moth, I truly thought it was a hummingbird. It was in the flower garden at The Wayside Chapel, just going from flower to flower drinking the nectar, with it's little wings going a mile a minute. I have seen them in my garden by my flowers, but not every year. I think they're fairies.