Page 450 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION Warm, temperate Europe and the Middle East to western
China and Mongolia; also areas of United States and Canada
as an introduction
HABITAT Open, dry, sunny locations where Euphorbia spp. grow,
such as eld and woodland edges, coastal sand dunes,

and bare mountainsides
HOST PLANTS Herbaceous species of spurge (Euphorbia spp.), occasionally
Rumex spp. and Polygonum spp.
NOTE Gaudy caterpillar that advertises its toxic nature
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common in hot, dry areas with plenty
of host plants

ADULT WINGSPAN
2¾–3⅜ in (70–85 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2¾–3⅜ in (70–85 mm)
HYLES EUPHORBIAE
SPURGE HAWKMOTH
448
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Young Spurge Hawkmoth caterpillars rest low down on the host
plant by day, moving up the stem en masse at dusk to feed. Full-
grown larvae feed quite openly, relying on gaudy, aposematic
coloration for protection. In all stages, larval feeding powers
are prodigious. Vast quantities of leaves and soft stems are
consumed between spells of basking, which the caterpillar does
more frequently as it grows. If a larva is disturbed, a thick stream

of dark green uid is ejected from its mouth, accompanied by
violent lateral body twitching. The green plant slurry is rich in
potent, host-derived, toxins and irritants.

The adult of this species is a noted migrant into central Europe
and central Asia, where it can be confused with several resident
species of Hyles, a widespread genus, containing up to
The Spurge Hawkmoth caterpillar is o -white 30 similar-looking species and 40 subspecies. Hyles euphorbiae
with a black head and horn at rst. This primary has also been introduced into areas of the United States and
color turns dark olive black, which lightens with
feeding. After the rst molt, the characteristic Canada to control non-native pest species of Euphorbia that have
bright pattern appears, superimposed on a light
greenish to yellow-brown background. With taken over grazing lands. The species name is derived from these
each successive molt, this pattern becomes principal host plants.
more startling and gaudy. The dorsolateral line
of eyespots may be red, yellow, green, white,
or orange.

Actual size