This page shows the life cycle of the Manduca sexta Sphinx moth, from egg to caterpillar to moth.

Also see this special page on the tachinid fly, Winthemia manducae - a parasite of hornworms.

Kingdom: Plantae, Phylum: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Solanales, Family: Solanaceae

Datura spp.

Datura (Jimson weed) of the Nightshade family of plants. This plant is common in southeast Arizona and is a good host for hungry Manduca caterpillars. Has big, white flowers and thorny fruit.

Ramsey Canyon, Cochise Co., AZ

8/10/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm egg with parasitic wasp or fly on Datura leaf.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

8/10/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm hatchling (1st instar). Note long, black tail ("horn").

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

8/20/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm (2nd instar). Old tail and head still visible.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

8/24/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm (3rd instar). White stripes becoming visible.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

8/28/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm (4th instar)

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

8/31/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm (5th instar)

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/6/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm (5th instar), nearing pupation. Pulsing dorsal hearts visible (dark spots at top of each segment).

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/21/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm (5th instar), dead. Pupation unsuccessful.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/23/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco hornworm pupas. Tails on left, heads on right. You can see where the wings are forming underneath the right sides.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/8/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco Hawkmoth just emerged from pupa shell. Note the six ("sexta") pairs of orange spots on sides of abdomen.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/18/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco Hawkmoth just emerged from pupa shell. Wings are starting to inflate.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/18/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco Hawkmoth just emerged from pupa shell. Wings are filling out.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/18/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco Hawkmoth just emerged from pupa shell. Wings almost ready.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/18/2003

Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae

Manduca sexta

Tobacco Hawkmoth just emerged from pupa shell. Wings in final shape and starting to harden.

Sierra Vista, Cochise Co., AZ

9/18/2003