Template:POTD/2012-05-14
The larva of tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), a moth that is present throughout much of the Americas. The caterpillars feed on plants of the family Solanaceae, principally tobacco, tomatoes and members of the genus Datura. It is a common model organism, especially in neurobiology, due to its easily accessible nervous system and short life cycle.Photo: Daniel Schwen