Kingdom Animalia Family Sphingidae Scientific name Hemeroplanes ornatus Rank Species | Class Insecta Genus Hemeroplanes Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
 | ||
Similar Hemeroplanes, Hemeroplanes triptolemus, Butterflies and moths, Pachylioides, Dilophonotini | ||
Hemeroplanes ornatus is a species of sphinx moth native to Mexico through northern South America.
Contents
Description
H. ornatus is mainly light brownish-gray with green, pink, and dark brown markings. In the fore wing cell, there is a short silver mark. There is a greenish-brown stripe running the length of the abdomen, with three yellow lateral stripes on the second, third, and fourth segments.
Life cycle
The female releases pheromones to attract males. The caterpillar is green, camouflaged against its host plant Fischeria panamensis. However, when disturbed, the caterpillar hangs from the vine with his prolegs and puffs up its head and thorax. The underside of its body is brown, and it has a pair of false eyes on the thorax, making it look like a small snake. It will move back and forth and strike at predators.