Verse 1
The Manduca sexta is a moth,
Under leaves the moth lays eggs.
One thousand eggs could hatch in five days
From this moth that has six legs.

Verse 2
The larva is green and eats a lot
It grows rapidly at this age.
It uses spiracles so it can breathe,
And stripes show at this stage.

Chorus
Manduca Manduca
Have you ever seen one crawl by?
Manduca Manduca
Have you ever seen one fly?

Verse 3
They wander in the wandering stage
To a dark place underground.
They do not eat any more and shrink
Then they slowly turn to brown.

Verse 4
The pupa case is brown with black spots.
You begin to see wings and eyes.
The proboscis is like a nectar tongue
The moth will use when it flies.

Chorus
Manducas Manducas
Have you ever seen one crawl by?
Manducas Manducas
Have you ever seen one fly?

Verse 5
The moth 's four wings have powdery scales
It has orange spots on its back.
The moth flies at dusk and at night time, too
With wings of grey, tan, and black.

Chorus
Manducas Manducas
Have you ever seen one crawl by?
Manducas Manducas
Have you ever seen one fly?

Manducas Manducas
Have you ever seen one crawl by?
Manducas Manducas
Have you ever seen, have you ever seen,
Have you ever seen one fly?

© 1994 by Lori Fraesdorf--Peth and Patricia Jiménez Weaver. All rights reserved. Limited reproduction rights are granted to teachers in the Tucson area to reproduce the song for use with their own students. Reproduction for any other purpose is strictly prohibited without permission from the authors.