Page 464 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION Korea, Japan, south to Chinese Taipei, and throughout eastern
and central China to Southeast Asia
HABITAT Forests and woodlands
HOST PLANTS Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), other Broussonetia
spp.,White Mulberry (Morus alba), and Maclura fruticosa
NOTE Unique Southeast Asian hawkmoth species that has no
close relatives
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
2⅜–3½ in (60–90 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2–2¾ in (50–70 mm PARUM COLLIGATA
PAPER MULBERRY
HAWKMOTH
462
(WALKER, 1856)

Paper Mulberry Hawkmoth caterpillars hatch from eggs laid
in small masses on the underside of host plant leaves. When
first laid by the female hawkmoth, the eggs are whitish but
turn yellow prior to hatching in about a week. The caterpillars
develop quickly and take about a month to reach pupation, which
occurs in a subterranean earthen cell. The adult hawkmoths
emerge in as little as 10 to 12 days during warmer times of the
year, but the pupae may overwinter in northerly areas.

There are one to two generations a year in northern China, with
adults on the wing from May to July. Farther south there may
be up to four generations annually with no winter dormancy.
Like many hawkmoth larvae, caterpillars of the Paper Mulberry
Hawkmoth are often parasitized by small wasps that develop
within the caterpillar, emerging to pupate in tiny cocoons
festooned around the now-dead larva. Parum colligata is the
only species of its genus.

The Paper Mulberry Hawkmoth caterpillar is
Actual size bright green and covered with tiny, raised, white
spots giving a granulated appearance. There are
seven oblique, lateral, paler stripes, and the head
is green, bordered on either side by a white
stripe. The legs and prolegs are also green.