Oleander Hawk-moth

Description:

Looks like it has been cut out of material used by the military for camouflage. Many shades of green with a touch of pink. Black and white criss-cross patterns too. This is a large moth. I have seen it a couple of times over the years...caterpillars too. We have Oleander trees in the neighbourhood....a highly toxic plant, on which the caterpillars feed being immune to it.

Habitat:

It has been raining intermittently and there are puddles on the road. Apparently this moth had fallen into one such puddle and was on its back; unsuccessfully trying to straighten its bulky body. Practically on its last legs when my maid fished it out, put it in a plastic bag and brought it to me...these days people in my immediate neighbourhood do not kill indiscriminately but bring the creature to me...so, I checked it and found that it is missing its right wing and cannot fly. I placed it on a flowering Bauhinia because I see pollinators visit it...so the pollen is edible...maybe nectar too. Through the day it shifted to find a shady place ...this fills me with hope that maybe it will live a day or two longer. But I have lots of insectivorous birds that may appreciate a substantial meal. Plus it rained just now...won't know till morning if it survived. I tried.