Manduca sexta
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The Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta L.) is the larval form of a moth of the Sphingidae family common throughout the American continent. Commonly known simply as the hornworm, it is closely related to (and sometimes confused with) the Tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata L.). The caterpillar feeds on the foliage of plants from the family Solanaceae (ie: tobacco or tomato leaves) and has mechanisms for selectively sequestering and secreting the neuro-toxic nicotine present in tobacco. A common biological control for hornworms is the parasitic wasp which lays it eggs in the flesh of tomato hornworms. Often parasitized tomato hornworms are seen covered with numerous white cocoons. These Cottony masses of white cocoons are erroneously believed to be "eggs."
The Tobacco Hornworm is used in a variety of bio-medical and biological scientific experiments. It can be easily raised on a wheat-germ based diet. The larva is large and thus relatively easy to dissect and isolate organs from.
External links
- Hornworm description at Colorado State
- [Nuisance Parasitic Wasps] Ohio State University
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