Oleander Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Description:

I was in the Tiru Saibaba mandir, and the gardeners were picking these caterpillars off their host plants and throwing them on the concrete to die. I must admit that the plants were very small and the caterpillars were devastating them! I collected 15 of various sizes and brought them back to my compound where I put them on Oleander trees and the small white-flowering plant that they like. I also kept a couple of the biggest ones inside to see if I can catch the emergence of the moth after it pupates. Last year I missed it! Suddenly the butterfly was climbing up the twig... In the photo on the concrete, the caterpillar is in the defensive posture - head down and tucked under so the large eye spots are visible. Daphnis nerii (formerly Deilephila nerii), known as the Oleander Hawk-moth Or Army Green Moth, is a moth of the Sphingidae family. The newborn caterpillars are pale blue. Their color changes to green as they grow. They have two spots resembling eyes on the forefront of their body.