Privet Hawk Moth
Scientific name: Psilogramma menephron
Click to enlarge image
Side view of the Privet Hawk moth
Photographer:Eric Foster
Rights:© Eric Foster
Location:Portland, near Bathurst, NSW
Date taken:15 February 2011
The Privet Hawk Moth is a large, dull grey moth whose green caterpillars feed on Privet. The wingspan can reach 12cm.
Image: Eric Foster
© Eric Foster
© Eric Foster
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Psilogramma
- Species
- menephron
- Subfamily
- Sphinginae
- Family
- Sphingidae
- Super Family
- Sphingoidea
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 12 cm wingspan
Privet Hawk Moth, Psilogramma menephron
Image: R.Jessop
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
The Privet Hawk Moth is a large, dull grey moth whose green caterpillars feed on Privet.
Identification
The caterpillars of the Privet Hawk Moth are green with diagonal white stripes and have a horn present on the end of their tail. This horn looks dangerous, but is quite harmless.
Privet Hawk Moth caterpillar, Psilogramma menephron
Image: Matthew Bulbert© Australian Museum
Habitat
The Privet Hawk Moth lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands.
Distribution
The Privet Hawk Moth is found in eastern and northern Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
The caterpillars of the Privet Hawk Moth are commonly seen in Sydney feeding on privet. They also eat jasmine and a number of other plants.
Other behaviours and adaptations
When disturbed, male Privet Hawk Moths may make a hissing sound by rubbing together a specialised set of scales and spines at the end of the abdomen.
