For example, in the African species Agrius convolvuli (the convolvulus or morning glory hawk moth), the antennae are thicker and wing markings more mottled in the male than in the female. In some species, differences in form between the sexes is quite marked. Prior to flight, most species shiver their flight muscles to warm them up, and, during flight, body temperatures may surpass 40 ☌ (104 ☏). Both males and females are relatively long-lived (10 to 30 days).

Most are crepuscular or nocturnal, but some species fly during the day. Some sphingids have a rudimentary proboscis, but most have a very long one, which is used to feed on nectar from flowers. The thorax, abdomen, and wings are densely covered in scales. They have a frenulum and retinaculum to join hindwings and forewings. They lack tympanal organs, but members of the group Choerocampini have hearing organs on their heads. They have wingspans from 4 cm ( 1 + 1⁄ 2 in) to over 10 cm (4 in).Īntennae are generally not very feathery, even in males. Sphingids are some of the faster flying insects some are capable of flying at over 5.3 m/s (19 km/h). This is thought to have evolved to deal with ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers. Sphingids have been much studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called 'swing-hovering' or 'side-slipping'. This hovering capability is only known to have evolved four times in nectar feeders: in hummingbirds, certain bats, hoverflies, and these sphingids (an example of convergent evolution). Some hawk moths, such as the hummingbird hawk-moth or the white-lined sphinx, hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, so are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. The family was named by French zoologist Pierre André Latreille in 1802. Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight. They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their agile and sustained flying ability, similar enough to that of hummingbirds as to be reliably mistaken for them. It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region. The Sphingidae are a family of moths ( Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms” it includes about 1,450 species.

Download horn worm