Nice hornworm photo, as well as a clear photo of the substantial damage they can inflict, if ignored. They always begin as a single, tiny egg on a tobacco leaf, and hatch into a 5 mm long hornworm after 1 or 2 days, leaving a pinhole in the lamina. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks of active feeding for a hornworm to reach the size shown in your photo. My impression is that such a 5th instar hornworm can devour 1/2 of all the leaf on a tobacco plant in about a day.
An inspection of the growing leaf at 3-5 day intervals can prevent that kind of major damage, by spotting minor divots.
Bob
An inspection of the growing leaf at 3-5 day intervals can prevent that kind of major damage, by spotting minor divots.
Bob