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Australian Wildlife

  Privet Hawk Moth (Psilogramma menephron)





Privet Hawk Moth | Psilogramma menephron photo
Privet Hawk Moth

Image by Donald Hobern - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Privet Hawk Moth | Psilogramma menephron photo
Privet Hawk Moth caterpillar

Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.







PRIVET HAWK MOTH FACTS

Identification
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.

Habitat
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