Informational poster
Anatomy of the Tobacco Hornworm
Client
Norm Barker
Year
2024
Media
Photography, Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop
Description
Using a macro lens, I captured specific anatomical features of the common tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), which is the larva of the Carolina sphinx moth. Although a common garden pest in the Americas, it is an excellent and vibrant example of classical caterpillar anatomy.
Using the Camera
These photos were captured wth a Nikon D700 with manual focus. The hornworm was not fast moving, but I still used an array of flash and other lights to reduce any blur. I used both a 1x and 2x macro lens to capture the detail.
1x lens
2x lens for incredible detail
Older specimen with dorsal vein showing
Physiology of the Hornworm
I was lucky to find a specimen that was about to pupate. Its color was darker, and the skin becomes more transparent. The dorsal vein (stripe along the back) becomes visible.