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Privet Hawk Moth caterpillar
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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PRIVET HAWK MOTH FACTS
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Description
The Privet Hawk Moth is a large grey moth with long narrow wings and a darker grey wavy pattern. The abdomen has a dark line along the back. Males can make a hissing sound by rubbing scales over spines at the end of the abdomen. The caterpillars are green with diagonal white stripes and have a dark coloured horn on the end of their tail. Some caterpillars have purple brown markings along the back.
Size
wingspan 12cm. The caterpillar grows to 8 cm.
Environment
Urban areas, forests and woodlands.
Food
The caterpillars feed on privet, jasmine and other plants.
Breeding
The caterpillar pupates on the ground under loose soil and leaves
Range
Eastern and northern Australia.
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Lepidoptera | | Family: | Sphingidae | | Genus: | Psilogramma | | Species: | menephron | | Common Name: | Privet Hawk Moth |
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