
Some of our sphinx moth species do not feed as adult moths. Different species take nectar during different times of day or night, and many at dusk or dawn. While feeding, they hover in the air like hummingbirds. The caterpillars of some species are such well-known garden pests that they have their own names separate from that of the adult moth prime examples are the tomato hornworm (five-spotted hawk moth) and the tobacco hornworm (Carolina sphinx).Īdult sphinx moths, with their long tongues, are experts at drinking nectar from long-throated flowers such as trumpet vine and jimsonweed. Many sphinx moth species are named for their notable food plants, such as the Osage orange sphinx, four-horned elm sphinx, wild cherry sphinx, walnut sphinx, big poplar sphinx, snowberry clearwing, and grapevine sphinx. Each moth species has its own suite of suitable host plants (for example, some eat only members of the tobacco/tomato/potato family others must eat the leaves of rose-family trees such as plum, cherry, and apple). Also, they also make a deep humming sound when under stress.Sphinx moths use a wide range of larval host plants, including both woody and nonwoody species. The Pellucid Hawkmoth is a diurnal insect and does not much respond to light. The Cephonodes hylas feed primarily upon the leaves of the coffee plant and pomegranate – good diet. They inhabit a variety of habitats, and provided the temperatures are warm enough and the right types of vegetation are present, they seem to thrive. The insect has a rather wide distribution and lives primarily in areas of India, Japan, Africa, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Australia, Madagascar, and Seychelles. It is also a beautiful cross between a cicada, a moth, and a glass winged butterfly. The Pellucid Hawk Moth, Cephonodes hylas, or Coffee clearwing, is a moderately large species of moth.

Pellucid Hawkmoth Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology Source: In short, this is a beautiful moth worth spotting. The abdomen is somewhat tapered in shape and can be yellow, green, or orange. In adult individuals, the thorax is habitually also bright green. The legs and face are usually a light gray in color, and head and spiracles – mostly dark blue.īroad bands of yellow and red with a dark edging cross the body of the insect, which is stout in shape and reminds of the body of the bumblebee.

The caterpillar is a beautiful bright green. They commonly possess black edging, as well as thin black veins throughout them. The wings are an unusual triangular shape and wispy thin. Most interestingly, the wings are transparent and reflect most light (creating antireflection) which makes the species difficult to see. Luna Moth White Ermine Comet Moth Source: ĬC License: Pellucid Hawk Moth Physical DescriptionĬephonodes hylas can possess a wingspan of up to 3 in (7.5 cm). Its greatest threat, however, obviously comes in the form of the ongoing effects of climate change. Habitat loss naturally poses a possible danger.

Their name for it, though, isn’t nearly as simple to pronounce as the others that it goes by.

Scientists, meanwhile, know it by quite a different term, as is the norm.These include the terms of the coffee clearwing and the coffee bee hawkmoth. The marvel of Nature also goes by several alternates, however. The unique term of Pellucid Hawkmoth serves as the most frequently used common name for this moth.
