Manduca sexta — Carolina Sphinx

(Linnaeus, 1763)

Hodges# 7775

Etymology

Manduca: Latin word meaning “chew” or “jaw.”

Sexta: Latin word meaning “six” refers to the six pair of orange dots, which are typical on the abdomen of adults.

Pronunciation

man-DOO-kuh SEX-tuh

Other Common Names

Tobacco Hornworm

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Carolina Sphinx in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2019-08-16	Marion	Haynes, Tim	Caterpillar
2019-08-15	Hamilton	Avery-Kimball, Bobby	Adult
2019-08-14	LaPorte	Branco, Bethany	Caterpillar
2019-08-12	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Caterpillar
2019-08-10	Allen	Foltz, Vicky	Adult
2019-08-10	Wayne	Conwell, Chris	Caterpillar
2019-08-08	Hamilton	Kuhlman, Suzy	Caterpillar
2019-08-08	Boone	Jaskula, Jeanette	Adult
2019-08-07	Hancock	McPherson, Kelly	Caterpillar
2019-08-02	Decatur	Stephens, Greg	Caterpillar

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2019-08-16 County: Marion Observer: Haynes, Tim Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-15 County: Hamilton Observer: Avery-Kimball, Bobby Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-14 County: LaPorte Observer: Branco, Bethany Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-12 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-10 County: Allen Observer: Foltz, Vicky Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-10 County: Wayne Observer: Conwell, Chris Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-08 County: Hamilton Observer: Kuhlman, Suzy Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-08 County: Boone Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-07 County: Hancock Observer: McPherson, Kelly Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-02 County: Decatur Observer: Stephens, Greg Notes: Caterpillar

Manduca sexta Sightings by Month

Notes

The Carolina Sphinx is commonly called the Tobacco Hornworm but is much more commonly found on tomatoes then the closely related Five-spotted Hawkmoth (commonly called the Tomato Hornworm). These caterpillars are common hosts for parasitic wasps that lay their eggs inside the caterpillar and emerge after the complete their metamorphosis, thus killing the caterpillar.

Conservation Status

• Global status: G5 (secure)
• National status: N5 (secure)
• Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

Floral Associates

Carolina Sphinx caterpillars hosts on a variety of low-growing plants, many of which are common in gardens and agricultural production, especially species in the Solanaceae Family which includes garden tomatoes. This preference makes them somewhat of a pest to farmers and gardeners.

Adult use their long proboscis to feed on nectar from various flowers.

Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana for the Manduca sexta
Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Order: Asterales
Asteraceae	Lactuca spp.	Lettuce
Order: Brassicales
Brassicaceae	Brassica spp.	mustards
Order: Solanales
Solanaceae	Datura spp.	daturas (jimsonweeds)
	Hyoscyamus niger	black henbane
	Lycium spp.	wolfberry and desert-thorn
	Nicandra physalodes	apple of Peru
	Nicotiana spp.	tobacco
	Petunia spp.	petunias
	Physalis spp.	groundcherries
	Solanum spp.	nightshades
Order: Solinales
	Capsicum spp.	peppers
Order: Zingiberales
Cannaceae	Canna spp.	cannas