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Taro Hornworm (5th Instar)

Hippotion celerio

Description:

Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus, 1758), synonym: Sphinx tisiphone. Sphingidae, Macroglossinae. This larva is called the Taro Hornworm, brown form, 5th instar. It occurs worldwide and in several different color forms: green, brown, red or dark grey. It usually has an eyespot each side of the first and second abdominal segments, those on the first segment being larger. There are variable cryptic stripes and bands along the rest of the body. The larva has a tailhorn curved slightly backwards which tapers to a point. In the tropics, it is a pest on Gabi or Taro (Colocasia esculenta, Araceae). It also feeds on many other ornamental plants and crops. The adult moth is known by many names: Vine Hawkmoth, Silver-striped Hawkmoth, Taro Hawkmoth, Gabi Hawkmoth.

Habitat:

Backyard.

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3 Comments

AgnesAdiqueTalavera
AgnesAdiqueTalavera 10 years ago

Thank you dotun55 and Adi. :)

@Adi, PhiLep is busying me up :)

dotun55
dotun55 10 years ago

Those pair of fake eyes are really doing a great job. Has the profile of a reptile in the first photo. Great find!

Adarsha B S
Adarsha B S 10 years ago

Fantastic spotting and hence fantastic pose :)
Nice to see you back in action Agnes :)

Biñan, Laguna, Philippines

Spotted on Jan 18, 2014
Submitted on Jan 19, 2014

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Reference

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