Tobacco and Tomato Hornworm

[Dave Wagner]

Dale Schweitzer is trying to figure out how far north the tobacco hornworm
and/or tomato hornworm can overwinter as a pupa (in the ground).  (Stated
differently, must these moths must reinvade Connecticut each summer?)

Has anyone out there dug up a Manduca caterpillar from their garden in the
spring and successfully reared an adult?  Or might any of you have other
observations that are relevant to whether these common tomato-feeders can
survive a CT winter.

Not sure if I will survive this one myself.


David L. Wagner
Associate Professor
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
v. 860-486-2139; f. 860-486-6364
email: david.wagner at uconn.edu