A moth with an interesting pattern and named after one of the most common plants in the southeast. The adult moth is usually large with a long abdomen ending in a point. The top of the forewing is striped with shades of green to brown and has a dark dot in the middle. The top of the hindwing is orange. Known as “hornworms”, due to the large blue horn on the posterior end, the young larvae are slim and yellow. Maturing they become darker and gain 7 pairs of diagonal stripes merging into a dorsal black line.
Larvae feed on leaves of peppervine (Ampelopsis spp.), grape, and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Adults feed on nectar.
Females lay eggs in twos or threes on the underside of host leaves. Eggs hatch in 5 or 6 days and the young caterpillars eat their eggshells. Fully-grown caterpillars spin a loose cocoon in fallen leaves on the ground.
Moths are important for pollination and their larvae are a food source for birds and other animals
Least Concern
