- Author: Nanette McKnight Shamieh
While sitting out in our beautiful spring/summer weather the other day…
enjoying my container garden…I saw what first appeared to be an overweight hummingbird. After some research, it appears to be in fact a white-lined sphinx moth. I wanted to share what I learned since I was curious if it was truly a friend or foe. Basically, just enjoy the beautiful winged moth as they entertain with their fancy flight of pollination.
Found this information on this minor pest:
There are several species of sphinx moths that vary somewhat from one another, particularly in color and pattern. More beautiful and larger than the average flying moth these species start out as moth larvae that are distinguished by a long horn on the back end. When fully grown, the caterpillar is 3 inches long, has a dark button where the horn used to be, vary in color, and have at least 6 diagonal white stripes down the sides. These sphinx moths are generally minor pest, appearing cyclically. Caterpillars feed on grape leaves, first causing small round holes and later consuming the entire leaf. Noticeable damage is uncommon and naturally occurring parasites normally control the pest.
Sphinx moths lay large green eggs singly on the upper surfaces of the outer grape leaves. Eggs hatch after 6 to 9 days. Immediately after hatching, a caterpillar eats a smooth round hole in the leaf and crawls through to the lower surface, where it continues to eat. Caterpillars feed on grape leaves for about 25 days. They then make their way to the ground and construct a smooth-walled cell in which to overwinter as pupae. First-generation moths emerge during the first half of May. A second brood of moths, much more numerous than the first, appears in early July and the greatest damage is done in August. A generation is completed in about 55 days, and in some years there are three generations.
More info on this beautiful flyer….
DESCRIPTION: WS up to 3.5" (90mm). Large moth, often seen hovering in front of flowers like a hummingbird. Hindwing is dark with pink band and white trim. Forewing is brown with prominent white stripe down length of each wing. NATURAL HISTORY: This large moth often is seen hovering at flowers in the early morning or evening and may even be confused with a hummingbird. Caterpillars (green and black-striped, hairless, with a "horn" on the rear end) may be seen in large numbers migrating across roads, etc. during the monsoon summer time. http://wc.pima.edu/~bfiero/tucsonecol109/animals/arth_wlsm.htm http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/moths.shtml Even more info: The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera), commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms; it includes about 1,450 species.[1] It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region.[2] They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability.[2] Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight. Some hawk moths, such as the hummingbird hawk moth or the white-lined sphinx, hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, so are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. This hovering capability is only known to have evolved four times in nectar feeders: in hummingbirds, certain bats, hoverflies, and these sphingids,[3] (an example of convergent evolution). Sphingids have been much studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called 'swing-hovering' or 'side-slipping.' This is thought to have evolved to deal with ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers.[3]Sphingids are some of the faster flying insects; some are capable of flying at over 5.3 m/s (12 miles per hour).[4] They have wingspans from 4 to over 10 cm. |
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