Bedstraw Hawk Moth

Description:

Hyles galli, an introduced species in North America, is more commonly known as the Gallium Sphinx in the North American portion of its range. Hyles galli is characterized by beautiful pink hindwings edged with black, and an dark olive green colored body and forewings. The forewings also have an uneven cream colored band which extends from the inside of the forewing to the tip of the forewing. Along the white band are some cream colored bumps on the upper side of the band, which appear as if they were trying to become bands. The middle of the inside forewing also curves inward, and then curves back out, revealing part of the hindwing and the body of the moth. There is a gray stripe which can be followed along the bottom of the forewing, which meets the cream colored line at the tip of the forewing. A white line extends from the uneven cream colored line on the forewing, and eventually leads on to the head of the moth, making two parallel lines on either side of the moth's mouth. The body of the moth is olive green with white specks uniformly patterned to make rows. There is also some black and white alternating stripes where the hindwing connects to the body. The moth, while feeding on flowers with its long proboscis, can be mistaken for a hummingbird if not closely observed. This sphinx moth is quite small, and looked like its antennae got thicker at the end, similar to that of a butterfly.

Habitat:

Larvae feed on Willow-herb/Fireweed (Epilobium spp.), Bedstraw (Galium spp.), and other plants in the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose family).

Notes:

Found at outside light in the morning. First sphinx moth found which came to one of my lights at home. My sixth find of a sphinx moth.