Oleander Hawk Moth (Pupa)

Description:

Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758), the Oleander Hawk-moth. Two days have passed since the larva had turned into the dark pre-pupal form (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170...). Before it pupated, it prepared its hiding place (pic#3) by gluing the leaves of the Madagascar Periwinkle plant (Catharanthus roseus, Apocynaceae family) using a silky threadlike substance. This is now the pupa. It is about 6cm, brown, with black dots running along its wings and abdominal segments. There's also a black line running along the proboscis, over the head and thorax, getting lighter at the abdominal segments. It is very sensitive to touch. It twitched its body when disturbed while I was clearing some of the leaves so that I could take its photo and when I returned the leaves to cover it.

Habitat:

Backyard.

Notes:

Here are the related spottings: Male Oleander Hawkmoth - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/171.... Releasing the Female Hawkmoth - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/169.... Newly-eclosed Female Adult - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170.... Days 13and14 Pre-eclosion Pupa and Day 15 Pupal case - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170.... Days 10and12 Pupa - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170.... Day 2 Pupa - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/171.... 5th Instar Pre-pupal Larva - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170.... 5th Instar Larva - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/169.... 2nd Instar Larva - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/169....