A common moth with a bad wrap but an important purpose. The larvae of this moth are often more recognizable than the adults. Another name for the larvae is Tobacco Hornworm and it is often confused for the Tomato Hornworm. These caterpillars are often considered pests in gardens due to their taste for plants in the nightshade family, including tomatoes. However, the adult moths are very important for pollination, especially of our native orchid species. The caterpillars have a large green body with a pink dorsal “horn” and up to seven oblique whitish lateral lines, edged with black on upper borders. The adults are large and their abdomens usually have 6 pairs of yellow bands. The forewing has indistinct black, brown, and white markings. The hindwing is banded with black and white and has 2 black zigzag median lines.
Larvae prefer plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) including potato, tomato, tobacco, pepper, eggplant, and jimson weed. Adults feed on nectar from deep-throated flowers. from
Males are identifiable by their broader antennae and the presence of claspers at the end of the abdomen. Female moths are typically ready to mate one week after eclosion (emergence from pupae), and do so only once. Males may mate many times.
Moths are important for pollination and their larvae are a source of food for birds and other animals
Least Concern
