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Project Noah Nature School
Hippotion celerio
Hippotion celerio, known as the Vine Hawk-Moth or Silver-striped Hawk-Moth, is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found in Africa, Southern Europe, Central and Southern Asia and Australia. It can be found further north, because of its migratory nature. Larvae may be green, yellowish green or even brown. They have a dark broken mid-dorsal line and a creamy dorso-lateral line from the fifth segment to the horn. The head is round, and usually a dull green colour. The larva has a horn which is usually long and straight. There is a large yellow and green eyespot on the third segment and a smaller one on the fourth segment. Larvae typically feed on the leaves of plants such as the grape vine, Cissus, Impatiens and the Arum lily.
I was keeping watch on this caterpillar because I wanted to document its metamorphosis and find out what kind of butterfly it will turn to. But unfortunately, the next day it is nowhere to be found.
Thanks a lot Nina C. Wilde. Admirable effort you exerted on this spotting. It's nice to see that a lot in this community are helping each other accomplish something. Again, thanks.
JG-that's what i get for not refreshing a page that I had saved to hunt from, until, of course I posted that I found it... and then I saw we both happened upon the same species. Good detective work JG!
GOT IT! Hippotion celerio larva
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hippot...
Just to chime in, the plant is not a vine, its a species of Alocasia, also known as elephant ears.
No problem! Looking at the plant (it appears to be a vine), I would definitely say it is Hippotion celerio.
jgorneau, I have already uploaded the plant which the caterpillar was feeding on. I hope this will help ID this caterpillar. Thanks for your effort.
I have suggested an ID that may be it, though I am not definite. Here are some other links:
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/893...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/papaalphaec...
Okay, I looked at Bill's site, and for the Phillipines, he does not have anything I can find posted for Sphinx moths--only for Saturnids.
I don't have resources for your geographic area--my guess would be that it's still in the group of moths called Sphingidae, but probably NOT X. pluto. I only gave that species name for reference to something nearby in classification. Bill Oehlke's website may be of use. I have a membership there and if I have time, I can look through the images from your area.
Nina, do you think that this could be the same moth even if my caterpillar is here in the Philippines?
Closest I can find in looking through my copy of Wagner's "Caterpillars of Eastern North America" is in genus Xylophanes, perhaps X. pluto.
(aka Pluto Sphinx)
This caterpillar will become one of the sphinx moths (Sphingidae), and can be identified by the pointy tail at the end of the body. I don't know exactly which species this is, but if you send your photo to Bill Oehlke at the WLSS website, he may be able to ID it for you. http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/danjans...
Spotted on Jun 25, 2012
Submitted on Jun 25, 2012
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