Page 442 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION Southern and Southeast Asia, from Pakistan east to southern
China and Vietnam
HABITAT Higher elevation areas, parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Privet (Ligustrum spp.), honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), and
ash (Fraxinus spp.)
NOTE “Sphinx” posturing caterpillar that may defoliate its host plant
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
2⅛–3⅜ in (55–86 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2 ⁄ –2¾ in (52–70 mm) DOLBINA INEXACTA
COMMON GRIZZLED
HAWKMOTH
440
(WALKER, 1856)

Common Grizzled Hawkmoth caterpillars emerge from
spherical, smooth, shiny green eggs laid by the female moth
on the underside of host plant leaves. The larvae are not very
active, preferring to move little but consume a great deal of
vegetation during development, sometimes causing defoliation.
The caterpillar spends much of its time resting on the underside
of leaves in the typical “sphinx” posture, holding its head above
its body. Prior to pupation, it stops feeding, loses its green color,
and starts wandering, climbing to the ground in search of a
suitable pupation site.

Eventually, the caterpillar burrows about 6 in (150 mm) into
the soil to form a chamber, where the pupa overwinters. The
hawkmoth adults are nocturnal, feeding and egg laying at night.
Like the caterpillars, the Dolbina inexacta adults are also well
camou aged when at rest, blending in on tree trunks and other

“grizzled” surfaces. One or two generations may occur annually.

The Common Grizzled Hawkmoth caterpillar is
whitish green with numerous white dots covering
the body, more profuse dorsally. There are seven,
prominent, oblique white stripes laterally. The
Actual size whitish-green posterior horn is long and straight.
The head is light green with a pair of white
stripes either side. The true legs are tan colored,
while the prolegs are green.