Hawk moths (a.k.a. sphinx moths and hornworms; Family: Sphingidae) are known for their rapid, sustained flying ability. They are even capable of moving rapidly from side to side while hovering and are some of the fastest flying insects. Hawk moths are important pollinators of many different plant species and are often associated with orchids (Angraecum spp.), lavender (Lavandula spp.), luehea (Luehea spp.), sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum), and phlox (Polemoniaceae spp.). In general, hawk moths pollinate plants that have flowers with the following traits: nocturnal flower opening, white or pale coloration, sweet fragrance, horizontal to pendant posture, abundant sucrose-rich nectar, and a long nectar tube. Hawk moths insert their tongues, and sometimes their bodies, into nectar tubes to collect nectar. In doing so, they incidentally touch the flower's anthers and stigmas, transferring pollen to the same and other blossoms. Nectar tubes and hawk moth tongue lengths are often associated - a shorter tongue than tube usually does not allow a hawk moth to collect nectar and a longer tongue than tube makes the hawk moth less effective at pollen removal and pollination. These relationships range from strong one-to-one tongue- and tube-length mutualisms to more general. Hawk moths have been documented with tongues up to 14 inches long! However, the average North American hawk moth tongue is 2 1/3 inches long with the average nectar tube of flowers pollinated by North American hawk moths just over 2 inches long.
Description:The Carolina sphinx moth has six pairs of yellow bands on its abdomen; indistinct black, brown, and white markings on its forewing with wing fringes spotted with white; and black and white bands and two black zigzag lines on its hindwing. The forewings are long and narrow and larger than the hindwings. These moths have a wing span of two to 12 cm. The caterpillar, known as a tobacco hornworm, is cylindrical with seven straight white lines with black edges on each side and has a red-tipped horn at the end of its abdomen.
Life History:Females lay a single egg on the upperside of a host plant leaf. Hostplants include potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the nightshade (Family: Solanaceae) family. The female will lay up to 100 eggs in a season. Eggs hatch in two to eight days and the larva emerges. Caterpillars pupate and overwinter in burrows in the soil for one to 25 weeks. An adult emerges and lives for several weeks. The life cycle has between two and four generations per year and the insects are typically active in late summer through fall.
Habitat:This species is found in tobacco fields, vegetable gardens, and a wide variety of other habitats.
Distribution:The Carolina sphinx moth is found in Massachusetts west across southern Michigan to Minnesota, central Colorado, and northern California; south to Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California.
Status:This species is secure globally, though may be rare in parts of its range.
