leafy spurge hawkmoth

Leafy spurge hawkmoth is a large exotic moth. It is native to Europe and western Asia. It was introduced into the United States in the 1960s. Since then it has spread widely and its range continues to expand. It now occurs in the northern United States and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. It is found from late May through July in disturbed meadows and other grasslands with large populations of leafy spurge. Larvae feed on the foliage of leafy spurge and other members of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family. Adults feed on flower nectar.

Adults are large-bodied, 1½″ to 2″ (38 to 50 mm) long, and have a wingspan of 29 ⁄16″ to 31 ⁄16″ (64 to 77 mm). A narrow white stripe on each side extends from the side of the head, over the eye to the end of the thorax. The antennae are white and have numerous short, comb-like extensions on one side (pectinate). The body is brown. The abdomen has a narrow white stripe on each side between each abdominal segment that does not meet on the upper side.

The forewing is long and narrow with a smooth leading edge (costal margin), a convex outer margin, and a slightly concave inner margin. The upperside is light tan with a slight pinkish tinge and is peppered with black specks. There is an olive-brown, almost square patch in the basal area, and another on the costal margin in the median area. An olive-brown postmedial band begins as a broad patch on the inner margin, narrows abruptly, then tapers almost to a point at the apex. The pale area on the outer margin is usually heavily peppered.

The hindwing is black with a broad, rose-pink, median band; a narrower, pink, terminal band; and a white patch at the anal angle. The underside of both wings is pink.

The larva (caterpillar) is black and brown or entirely black. Each abdominal segment has several rows on tiny yellowish spots and a single large yellowish spot on each side (subdorsally). A black-tipped red horn protrudes from the upper side of the eighth abdominal segment (A8). A narrow, red, upper middle (middorsal) stripe extends from behind the head to the base of the horn. There is a pair of fleshy, leg-like structures on A3 through A6 and on A10. The prolegs on A10 are flattened laterally allowing the caterpillar to tightly grip stems, twigs, and leaves. There is a hardened plate (anal plate) on the upper side of A10. The head, prolegs, and anal plate are colored the same, usually red. Mature caterpillars are up to 2¾″ (7 cm) long and are often found in late summer crossing roads.

Total length: 1½″ to 2″ (38 to 50 mm)

Wingspan: 29 ⁄16″ to 31 ⁄16″ (64 to 77 mm)

Disturbed meadows and other grasslands with populations of leafy spurge.

Probably just a single generation per year in North America: Late May through July.

Adults are active during the day but mostly late in the day and after dark. They hover like a hummingbird when visiting flowers. They will come to light.

The female lays a single egg or a small cluster of eggs on the underside of a host plant leaf. Pupa overwinter in the ground just below the surface.

Leafy spurge and other members of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family.

Flower nectar

Sources

4, 21, 22, 24, 29, 30, 75, 82, 83.

Eighty-five subspecies have been described. Only two are currently recognized. Only one occurs in North America.

Several large caterpillars found along trails around Quarry Lake.

Leafy spurge hawk moth

Your website shows the “Distribution” of the hawk moth but does not show Duluth as part of that area.

Yesterday I found 8 large and 2 small caterpillars on my Cushion Spurge. I also took a video clip of a hawk moth on my patch of impatient flowers.

You may want to update your Distribution on your website.

Hyles euphorbiae
Adam Grochowalski

Mackenzie Sowers
9/10/2024

Location: Fergus falls, MN

Location: Franklin Township, Wright County, Minnesota

Location: Waverly, SD

One big one doin’ his job eating spurge.  How do we get more of these caterpillars? Appreciate their help.

Location: Quarry Lake Park, Shakopee

Several large caterpillars found along trails around Quarry Lake.

Location: Scott County, MN Valley Trail, near Blue Lake Wastewater treatment plant

Observed several others squashed on the trail from bicycle traffic.

Location: Duluth, MN

Description: Your website shows the “Distribution” of the hawk moth but does not show Duluth as part of that area.

Yesterday I found 8 large and 2 small caterpillars on my Cushion Spurge. I also took a video clip of a hawk moth on my patch of impatient flowers.

You may want to update your Distribution on your website.

Location: New Richland MN

dozens of them are eating my sedums.

Location: Minneapolis (Brooklyn Center)

Yesterday I noticed something had been eating the tops off of one of my hardy succulent type plants (sedum?) Today I found at least 9 of these guys and they’re destroying my plant!!!

Location: Missouri River south of Garrison Dam

Caterpillar

Location: Carver County