Cape Hawkmoth

Theretra capensis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sphingidae

Also called: Grapevine Sphinx

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Cape Hawkmoth
Photo: Wynand Uys, CC BY

The forewings measure about 44 to 52 mm in length. The caterpillars feed on plants of the Vigna genus.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

Forewing length is 44 to 52 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

Found in woodland and open habitats across the Cape, Zimbabwe, Zambia, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique and East Africa.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Larvae feed on Vigna species.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

Cape Hawkmoth photo 3
Photo: Ryan van Huyssteen, CC BY
Cape Hawkmoth photo 4
Photo: Nicola van Berkel, CC BY-SA

Same family (Sphingidae)

White-lined SphinxWhite-lined SphinxHyles lineataDamages trees, gardens or cropsEurasian Hummingbird HawkmothEurasian Hummingbird HawkmothMacroglossum stellatarumSnowberry ClearwingSnowberry ClearwingHemaris diffinisCarolina SphinxCarolina SphinxManduca sextaDamages trees, gardens or cropsHummingbird ClearwingHummingbird ClearwingHemaris thysbeDamages trees, gardens or cropsElephant HawkmothElephant HawkmothDeilephila elpenor

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theretra_capensis

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.

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