Large privet hawk moth

Body length 6 cm. I understand that the wingspan can be up to 10 cm for this species.

Found and released from a spider's web, looking a little battered/aged. It began vibrating its wings and soon after flew off in to foliage where it rested in the sunshine. Its size was so impressive.

Found in the east and north of this country. Larvae feed on privet (Ligustrum sinense, family Oleaceae), trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans, family Bignoniaceae) and other plants. An agricultural pest of olive trees.

When disturbed, males of this species may make a hissing sound by rubbing together a specialised set of scales and spines at the end of the abdomen.

comments (3)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Nice rescue action, Ruth. I'm reading even the larva is of an impressive 80mm size. Posted 3 years ago
1. Ruth Spigelman
  
  Lion
  
  Are you as conflicted as I am Ferdy, at times such as this? Usually, I do let nature take its course, but I was curious as to finding out this moth species and examining it due to its impressive size. Not big or strong enough to escape spider silk on its own though. Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Practically speaking, for this specific situation, I wouldn't worry about it. As far as I know, most spiders rebuild their web every day (and some repair it). I would expect the spider to not be impacted too much.
    
    And even if it was, most spiders won't make it to reproduction age due to all kinds of random causes, and I guess we have to accept that it's a numbers game, or we would be living in a spider's world :) Posted 3 years ago

The Australasian privet hawk moth

"Psilogramma casuarinae", the Australasian privet hawk moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1856. It is known from New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Queensland, all in Australia.

Info 2 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Ruth Spigelman