The Five-spotted Hawk Moth is the parent of the tomato hornworm caterpillar — a large green larva with white diagonal stripes and a distinctive red posterior horn that is the bane of tomato gardeners. The adult moth is large with a gray-patterned forewing and five pairs of orange spots on the abdomen. Braconid wasp cocoons often parasitize the caterpillar, appearing as white rice-grain structures on its back.
Best time to see a Five-spotted Hawk Moth
The best time to see a Five-spotted Hawk Moth is July–September, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 5,783 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Five-spotted Hawk Moth? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Five-spotted Hawk Moth sightings near you
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