Hyles livornicoides

Hyles livornicoides (T.P. Lucas, 1892)
(one synonym : Phryxus australasiae)
MACROGLOSSINAE, SPHINGIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 25 April 2007)

(Photo: courtesy of Helen Cross, Windorah, western Queensland)

These Caterpillars are striped, and range in colour from green to brown. They have eyespots along the sides joined by a pale line. They have a rough black but harmless spike on the tail. They are very gregarious, living in dense colonies. They have been reported to feed on :

Pigweed ( Portulaca oleracea, PORTULACACEAE ),

Hogweed ( Boerhavia diffusa, NYCTAGINACEAE ),

Tar Vine ( Boerhavia schomburgkiana, NYCTAGINACEAE ),

Grape Vine ( Vitis vinifera, VITACEAE ), and

Bullshead Burr ( Tribulus terrestris, ZYGOPHYLLACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Helen Cross, Windorah, western Queensland)

The caterpillars were a food source for Aborigines. Aborigines starved the caterpillars for a day or two before roastng them. The cooked larvae were said to have a pleasant savoury taste and could be stored for a long time.

(Photo: courtesy of David and Tom Sleep)

The adult moth has brown forewings with white markings, and brown hindwings, each with a broad diagonal pink stripe. The wingspan is about 6 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of David and Tom Sleep)

The species is found all over mainland Australia.