Argos Hawk Moth
SPHINGINAE, SPHINGIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Max Moulds & D.A. Lane
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 5 January 2007)
(Photo by Clifford Frith, courtesy of
The Australian Entomologist)
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Max Moulds & D.A. Lane
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 5 January 2007)
(Photo by Clifford Frith, courtesy of
The Australian Entomologist)
This Caterpillar was discovered only recently (1997). It was named from the Greek word argos meaning 'white', because of the pale colour of the adult moths.
The Caterpillar is green with a strong curved horn on its tail pointing backwards, a series of diagonal white stripes on its sides, and dark marks on the back of each segment. Its foodplant is :
It grows to a length of about 8 cms.
When the Caterpillar is fully grown, it leaves the food plant and walks around looking for somewhere to dig down about 15 cms. There, under the soil, it forms a cell of silk in which it pupates. The pupa has a separate compartment at one end in which the haustellum develops.
The adult moth has long narrow wings which are a pale grey colour, with black markings. The abdomen is grey, with no dark dorsal line.
The species occurs over much of the tropical north of Australia. Specimens have been taken in Western Australian, the Northern Territory, and north Queensland.
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