Oleander Hawk Moth (5th Instar Larva)

Description:

My mom found this caterpillar (length is about 7cm) in the garden and on the ground, clinging to a twig of a Madagascar Periwinkle plant (Catharanthus roseus, Apocynaceae family). Fearing that it will be eaten by the birds, we placed it inside a bird cage with fresh supplies of periwinkle leaves. Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758), the Oleander Hawk-moth. This is the 5th instar larva. Here is the 2nd instar larva: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/169.... Here is the 5th instar pre-pupal larva: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170....

Habitat:

Backyard garden.

Notes:

Metamorphosis: http://mothshots.com/Pages/ImagePages/Ma..., http://www.drkrishi.com/metamorphosis. Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758)(formerly Deilephila nerii), known as the Oleander Sphinx Moth or Oleander Hawk Moth, is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is a large hawk-moth found in wide areas of Africa and Asia. It is a migratory species, flying to parts of eastern and southern Europe during the summer. Wikipedia.