Tomato hornworms can damage the leaves and fruit of plants. Once they’ve achieved full size, they burrow underground and pupate in the soil.

Small larvae - caterpillars - hatch from the eggs and quickly grow to full size. These moths lay eggs on the leaves of tomato plants.

Tomato hornworms are the larval stage of a night-flying hawk moth, or sphinx moth. Understanding the Tomato Hornworm Life Cycle You likely won’t see them until some damage is already done. Their bright green color allows these large caterpillars to blend in and become almost invisible on a tomato plant. These pests are monsters, growing to 4″ long. Both can cause plenty of damage to a tomato crop. Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) are often confused with the closely related tobacco hornworm ( Manduca sexta). Still learning about gardening? Check out this guide to growing Roma tomatoes in your garden! Have you ever walked out into the garden to discover one of your tomato plants completely decimated? You’re likely looking at the work of a tomato hornworm.

Download tomato hornworm eggs