Page 478 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Sphingidae
DISTRIBUTION India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Chinese Taipei,
South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia
HABITAT Open forests, orchards, plantations, gardens, and parks
HOST PLANTS Grapevine (Vitis spp.), arum (Amorphphallus spp.),
hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.), and treebine (Cissus spp.)

NOTE Hawkmoth caterpillar that has in atable false eyespots
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
2¾–4 in (70–100 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2¾–3 in (70–75 mm) THERETRA CLOTHO
COMMON HUNTER
HAWKMOTH
476
(DRURY, 1773)

Common Hunter Hawkmoth caterpillars hatch from pale green,
smooth eggs laid singly by the female hawkmoth on host plant
leaves, mostly on the underside. The larvae feed mostly by
night, usually on vines cascading over walls or hanging down
from trees. By day they hide within the foliage, against which
they are perfectly camou aged. A further defense mechanism is

their pair of false eyespots at the anterior end, which they are able
to in ate when threatened. Development through ve instars

takes three to four weeks. When mature, the caterpillars crawl
to the ground and form a imsy, brown cocoon among debris.

The adults, which are nocturnal or crepuscular, emerge in as
little as 14 days and are on the wing from spring to fall, often
producing multiple generations. The genus Theretra contains
about 65 named species that occur in most parts of the world.
Common Hunter Hawkmoth caterpillars consume large
amounts of vegetation during development and can destroy
small vines in garden settings.

The Common Hunter Hawkmoth caterpillar
is bright, almost translucent green tending
to yellowish dorsally. There are two rows of
Actual size seven white, round or slit-like eyespots running
down each side. The anterior pair are more
developed and have a green pupil. The spiracles,
true legs, and tail horn are reddish. There is
also a rarer dark form of the caterpillar, where
the body color is a dull brown.