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Spurge Hawkmoth; Esfinge de la Lechetrezna

Hyles euphorblae

Description:

Moth caterpillar of the family Sphingidae. The caterpillar is smooth and black, with innumerable whitish dots; there are also eleven large spots of the same colour arrayed in a row on each side of the back, and beneath these as many spots of the same size and of a bright coral-red colour; the head is of the same coral-red colour, and a line of the same colour runs all along the back, from the head to the horn; the horn is red at the base and black at the tip. It feeds on sea-spurge (Euphorbia). These plants exude a toxic white latex. The vivid colours of the caterpillar prevent possible predators about its toxicity

Habitat:

Spotted feeding on Euphorbia, at a dune area close to the sea shore

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.; f/32; ISO Speed Rating: 200. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired

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2 Comments

arlanda
arlanda 9 years ago

Yes lorenzo1, these caterpillars are toxic. The vivid colours (aposematic) advise potential predator about their toxicity. I do not know what for is the horn at its back

arlanda
arlanda 9 years ago

I added one more picture

arlanda
Spotted by
arlanda

Principado de Asturias, Spain

Spotted on Aug 23, 2014
Submitted on Nov 18, 2014

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