Page 458 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION Southern Asia, from eastern India east to southern China,
southern Japan, and Southeast Asia
HABITAT Parks, gardens, mangroves, and wetlands
HOST PLANTS Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) and Noni (Morinda citrifolia)

NOTE Caterpillar that metamorphoses into a day- ying,
hummingbird-like hawkmoth
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but usually common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –2 ⁄ in (46–56 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2 ⁄ –2 ⁄ in (53–58 mm) MACROGLOSSUM SITIENE
CRISP-BANDED
HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH
456
(WALKER, 1856)

Crisp-banded Hummingbird Hawkmoth caterpillars hatch from
spherical, glossy, green eggs, laid singly on terminal leaves of
the host plant. First instars are green and well camou aged,

spending much time resting along the midvein on the undersides
of leaves. The caterpillars develop rapidly and have a voracious
appetite, feeding primarily on host plant leaves. When nearing
pupation, they turn from green to purplish brown and begin
to wander, looking for a pupation site, where they weave
a few leaves together to create a shelter. Within 48 hours,
the caterpillars pupate.

Pupation shelters may be in the lower leaves of a growing plant
or among leaf litter on the ground. The pupal period is short,
The Crisp-banded Hummingbird Hawkmoth only about 11 to 14 days. Adults are commonly seen flying
caterpillar is bluish green and covered with tiny,

white dots. An indistinct lateral, yellow white line in daylight hours visiting owers, such as Golden Dewdrop
runs the length of the body, leading to the
straight posterior horn. The head is green with (Duranta erecta) and Lantana (Lantana camara) blossoms. They
a yellow stripe on each side. The spiracles, true prefer flowers low down on bushes and fly very close to the
legs, and prolegs are light brown to tan. A brown
morph also occurs. ground when approaching.

Actual size