Caterpillars of Australian SPHINGIDAE

SPHINGIDAE of Australia
Hawk Moths
BOMBYCOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 26 May 2008)

The SPHINGIDAE are called Hawk Moths because the can fly very fast, and can also hover in flight. They use this latter ability to sip nectar from flowers using their long Haustellum (tongue), when they fly in the evening. They are large moths with long narrow fore wings, and smaller hind wings. When at rest, they hold their wings over the body like a tent.

Undetermined Australian Hawk Moth Caterpillars

Many Hawk Moth caterpillars are easily recognised by the dorsal horn on the last segment. It looks quite dangerous, but is quite harmless. Many of the Caterpillars are brightly coloured, with diagonal stripes and eyespots. The caterpillars grow to a length of 5 cms. or more. When disturbed, they commonly rear up with their anterior segments arched and their head facing the disturbance. The scientific name of the family is derived from this sphinx-like posture. Uniquely, keys have been published for identifying many of the caterpillars. Keys for 21 species of Australian SPHINGIDAE that attack ornamental plants are described in :

Max S. Moulds,
Larval food plants of hawk moths (LEPIDOPTERA: SPHINGIDAE) affecting garden ornamentals in Australia,
General and Applied Entomology, Volume 16 (1984), pp. 57-64. Keys for 11 species that attack commercial crops are described in : Max S. Moulds,
Larval food plants of hawk moths (LEPIDOPTERA: SPHINGIDAE) affecting commercial crops in Australia,
General and Applied Entomology, Volume 13 (1981), pp. 69-80. The caterpillars pupate in the soil or amongst litter at the base of the foodplant. The pupae are enclosed in a thin cocoon or have no cocoon at all.

The 65 named species of SPHINGIDAE occuring in Australia are:

SPHINGINAE

Agrius convolvuli : Convolvulus Hawk
Agrius godarti