Page 447 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION Eastern Mongolia, Russian Far East, Japan, Korea,
and central and eastern China
HABITAT Temperate woodland margins, tracks and clearings, leafy city
parks, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), as well as snowberry
(Symphoricarpos spp.) in gardens
NOTE Sphinxlike caterpillar that is well adapted to gardens and parks
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but very common where honeysuckles
are prevalent

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –2⅛ in (43–54 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
HEMARIS AFFINIS 1 ⁄ –2 in (40–50 mm)
HONEYSUCKLE BEE
HAWKMOTH 445

(BREMER, 1861)

The Honeysuckle Bee Hawkmoth caterpillar rests initially
along the midrib on the underside of a leaf, occasionally nibbling
oval holes. Most larvae feed at night, resting during daylight in
a typical sphinxlike pose. Full-grown caterpillars can be found
under the terminal twigs of mid-level branches and are common
around Beijing, China, on the ornamental Lonicera maackii from
late August to October. If disturbed, most larvae will drop to the
ground. The very dark brown, almost black pupa is formed in a
loose brown cocoon among debris on the soil, and overwinters.

This day-flying moth is a bumblebee mimic, flitting noisily
like its namesake from ower to ower. In northern China there

are two generations per year, with adults on the wing between The Honeysuckle Bee Hawkmoth caterpillar
May and late August; farther south there are three. As with most is initially whitish yellow. Fully grown individuals
other members of this 17-species, non-migratory, Holarctic come in two color forms—grass green and blue
green—with a pale line from a green head to a
genus, the adults emerge from the pupa with wings fully scaled. purple-blue horn. The dorsal surface is paler, the

After the rst ight, loose scales are shed, and clear areas appear. underside is reddish, and the whole granulose
body is covered with pale tubercles.

Actual size