Look for them in the late summer evenings as daylight begins to fade. Here in Utah you might come across one of a handful of different species in the sphinx moth family including the five-spotted hawk moth and the white-lined sphinx. Adult moths rely on a host of flowers such as columbine, honeysuckle, larkspur and evening primrose. They are voracious beasts with the ability to strip the vegetation off a tomato or pepper plant in one day.Īside from our garden plants, young hornworms of other species feed on a variety of vegetation including willow, poplar and cottonwood trees. Hornworm caterpillars, unlike their adult counterparts, are not beloved by gardeners. ![]() Like the adults, these larvae go by many names, the most common being the tomato hornworm. They are large and bright green with a distinctive horn near their hind end. The larvae, or caterpillar, of one common species of sphinx moth are well known by vegetable gardeners. However, they also hold a bit of a devious surprise. Sphinx moths are a beloved sight in many Utah gardens. Their size, speed, and flying ability reflect those of the hummingbird so closely that they are commonly misidentified. Sphinx moths are also some of the fastest insects on earth and have been clocked flying at over 30 miles per hour. ![]() Caterpillars grow to a robust 4 inches in length and adult wingspans can measure more than 5 inches. In all stages of their life, these insects are large. The winged wonder I saw that summer night was a sphinx moth, also called a hummingbird or hawk moth because of their large size and bird-like characteristics. A mistake, in fact, that has given this critter one of its many nicknames. If you’re thinking that I must have seen a hummingbird, you would be making a very common mistake. I was mesmerized, and struggled for a closer look. Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 3:33 | Recorded on September 11, 2014īI vividly remember the first time I saw one – a small winged creature whirring from flower to flower in the evening light, its long tongue dipping for nectar within tube-shaped blooms.
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