Page 439 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION India, China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Korea
HABITAT Lowland forests, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Indian Beech (Millettia pinnata), Malabar Kino (Pterocarpus
marsupium), Soybean (Glycine max), ox-eye bean (Mucuna spp.),
and thorn tree (Acacia spp.)
NOTE Caterpillars that are a delicacy in China
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but generally common

ADULT WINGSPAN
3 ⁄ –6 in (94–150 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
CLANIS BILINEATA 3⅜–4 in (85–100 mm)
TWO-LINED VELVET
HAWKMOTH 437

(WALKER, 1866)

Two-lined Velvet Hawkmoth caterpillars hatch from smooth
and shiny eggs laid singly on the underside of host plant leaves,
where they hang, well camou aged, for much of the time. When

resting, mature larvae raise the front part of their body with the
head bowed and the true legs held together. Late-stage
caterpillars are usually found quite high up, 10–20 ft (3–6 m),
toward the ends of branches. Pupation takes place on the ground
in a loosely spun cocoon, and there are multiple broods per
season in most locations from spring to fall. The Two-lined Velvet Hawkmoth caterpillar is
light to medium green, covered with numerous,
tiny, yellow dots. Laterally, there are seven,
No parasitoids have been reported in the caterpillars, although pale yellow, oblique stripes. The posterior horn
they can su er from a virus that transforms them into sacs of is green and relatively reduced compared to

other hawkmoth species. The true legs are tan
foul-smelling liquid. Adult moths are nocturnal but usually do colored, and the head and prolegs are green.
not y until the early hours of the morning. In China, the Clanis

bilineata caterpillar is an economic pest of Soybean (Glycine
max) but also considered a delicacy, with a protein content
comparable to that of milk or eggs.

Actual size