Which Lepidoptera has complete metamorphosis and sucking mouthparts and is commonly referred to as a hornworm?

• A. Velvet Ant
• B. Tiger Moth
• C. Tobacco Hornworm
• D. Walking Stick

Answer: (C)

Lepidoptera undergo complete metamorphosis, meaning they experience four life stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. In hawk moths, the adults have long sucking mouthparts for feeding on nectar, and the caterpillars are commonly called hornworms because of the horn-like tail.

The tobacco hornworm is the larval stage of a hawk moth (family Sphingidae). It’s a classic example of a hornworm and is well-known to students studying pests on tobacco and tomato plants. Among the options, this insect clearly fits both the hornworm name and the Lepidoptera pattern with sucking mouthparts as the adult.

Velvet ants are wasps, walking sticks are in a different insect order, and tiger moths are Lepidoptera but aren’t referred to as hornworms.