#cephonodes

Gardenia Bee Hawk Moth (Cephonodes kingii), family Sphingidae, Australia

Must be discrete...

Cephonodes hylas

One of the most frequent species I’m asked to ID on Amateur Entomology Australia, after mole crickets, antlion adults, and Endoxyla sp. Cossid Moths. Given that the moth is actually quite rare, that’s a little surprising, but it IS a spectacular moth, and at least once this century it went through a local population explosion around Sydney.

This one was photographed by Sheena Shephard in Gloucester, NSW, and she was rightly very pleased to see it grow from caterpillar to adult. This species feeds on Gardenias, including Australia’s native species, but is also found on Wild Lemon ( Canthium oleifolium ), Australian Native Myrtle ( Canthium attenuatum ), and other Canthiums, and Butterfly Bush ( Pavetta australiensis ). If the caterpillars are too crowded, they may eat each other. If threatened, the caterpillars arch back and regurgitate a green fluid. 

The caterpillars pupate under the the ground if it is soft enough, or among leaf litter if not.

Pellucid Hawk Moth aka Coffee Bean Moth (Cephonodes hylas), family Sphingidae, Bhandardara, India

Coffee Bee Hawk Moth aka Pellucid Hawk Moth (Cephonodes hylas), same individual at larval and adult stages, family Sphingidae, Taichung, Taiwan

Diurnal Moth

Notice that the wings have scales right after emergence, but they gradually wear off during their first flight.

Pellucid Hawk Moth aka Coffee Bean Moth (Cephonodes hylas), family Sphingidae, Bandung, Indonesia

Coffee Bee Hawk Moth aka Pellucid Hawk Moth (Cephonodes hylas), same individual at larval and adult stages, family Sphingidae, Taichung, Taiwan

Diurnal Moth

Cutie pillar!~

Cephonodes hylas