Oleander Hawk Moth

Description:

Sphingidae; Macroglossinae; Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758). This Oleander Hawk Moth is a female, based on comparing my pictures to the specimen displayed in Philippine Lepidoptera. I have been waiting for the local "Hawk Moth Season" (as I call it) to begin. This moth is a very fine specimen and I hope it is a harbinger of what is to come. Our garden is well stocked with suitable host plants. So I am on the lookout for eggs (on the underside of leaves) which always look like tiny lustrous pearls. When the larvae hatch and progress through the several stages in their development (instars), they are very photogenic, presenting even the poorest of photographers with opportunities of some nice pictures and the story which accompanies them. I think hawk Moths were just made for Project Noah.

Habitat:

Spotted this morning at around 10:45 am in our backyard, resting on a Pawpaw (Carica papaya) locally known as a Papaya.