Loathed by gardeners in its caterpillar stage, the Manduca quinquemaculata, or tomato hornworm, has eight V-shaped marks on each side and a signature horn on the rear. ... Both caterpillars turn into large moths with four- to six-inch wingspans in colors ranging from brown and gold to pink and grey.

Do hornworms become moths?

Life cycle of tomato hornworms

Tomato hornworms survive winters as pupae and emerge as adult moths in spring. After mating, females deposit oval, smooth, light green eggs on lower and upper leaf surfaces. Caterpillars hatch, begin to feed, and are full-grown in three to four weeks.

What does hornworm turn into?

Hornworm caterpillars turn into sphinx or hawk moths, a remarkable group of moths that often fly during both day and nighttime hours. With their sharp wings and hovering flight, hawk moths are frequently mistaken for small hummingbirds. Adult moths lay their large, spherical eggs on the undersides of leaves.