Convolvulus Hawkmoth

Agrius convolvuli · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sphingidae

Also called: Convolvulus Hawk Moth, Horntailed Caterpillar, Sweet Potato Hornworm, Sweet Potato Moth

Damages trees, gardens or crops. It can damage cultivated sweet potato plants, especially in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Source: Wikipedia

The Convolvulus hawkmoth has a wingspan of about 80 to 105 mm and shows grayish wings with a broad gray stripe on the abdomen and pink-black side bands. Its caterpillars feed on Convolvulus leaves and can also become pests of sweet potato crops in some regions. Adults are attracted to light, are active at dusk, and have a very long proboscis for feeding on deep flowers.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

The moth’s basic colour is gray, with a wide gray stripe on the back of the abdomen and pink-black bands edged in white on the sides. Its hindwings are light gray with broad dark crosslines.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

The wingspan ranges from 80 to 105 mm (about 3.1 to 4.1 in).

Source: Wikipedia

Is it a pest in the house?

In New Zealand and the Pacific it can become a pest of cultivated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas).

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

It is common across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, often arriving as a migrant. The moth is strongly attracted to lights and is frequently killed on highways.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Caterpillars eat the leaves of Convolvulus plants, which gives the species its name. Adults feed while hovering, using a proboscis longer than their body to reach deep flowers such as Nicotiana, petunias and lilies.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Caterpillars can appear in brown, bright green or black colours.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

They are most active at sunset and during twilight, often seen hovering over garden flowers.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

In the western part of its range it may be confused with the related Agrius cingulata.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it is found in the US

Recorded in 1 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan.

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Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.

Source: GBIF

More photos

Convolvulus Hawkmoth photo 3 — Photo: Saryu Mae 前朝琉, CC BY

Convolvulus Hawkmoth photo 4 — Photo: Birgit E. Rhode, Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd, CC BY

Convolvulus Hawkmoth photo 5 — Photo: Birgit E. Rhode, Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd, CC BY

Questions people ask

Is it a problem for my garden?

It can damage sweet potato plants in some regions, but otherwise it mainly feeds on Convolvulus leaves.

Source: Wikipedia

Why do they keep hitting my car lights?

The moth is strongly attracted to artificial lights, which often leads to collisions on highways.

Source: Wikipedia

How can I tell it apart from similar moths?

Look for a broad gray dorsal stripe on the abdomen and pink-black side bands edged with white; it may be confused with Agrius cingulata in western areas.

Source: Wikipedia