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Inspired/dedicated as per personal communication with Michelle Rousselow and nephew Will Dooley (Xylophanes tersa, June 26, 2012); June 27, 2012 Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, June 27, 2012 Updated as per BAMONA, June 27, 2012 |
Xylophanes tersa, fourth instar, Virginia Beach, Virginia,
June 26, 2012, courtesy of Michelle Rousselow and nephew Will Dooley.
Xylophanes tersa, fresh moult into fifth instar, Virginia Beach, Virginia,
June 26, 2012, courtesy of Michelle Rousselow and nephew Will Dooley.
In the lower picture above, the discarded skin with the anal horn sheath still rigid is shown behind the larva which now has a more brownish skin. I suspect it will feed for another 4-7 days before looking for some earth in which to pupate. I do not think it will feed on the grasses which have been supplied in the picture below. A visit to the Xylophanes tersa file via the link in the checklist below will provide a listing of likely host plants, and Michelle can chose the one from her garden that is most suited. The Care of "found larvae/caterpillars" link will also provide help in seeing this caterpillar through to its adult moth stage which is likely to occur in 3-4 weeks.
Michelle writes, "Good evening Mr. Oehlke,
"While doing some yard work today in Virginia Beach, VA, I came across this unusual creature. I started poking around the internet and ran across your information.
"I have an 8-year old nephew named Will from Minnesota who is fascinated with insects. We are both very curious about this animal and were hoping you might be of
assistance. We believe it to be a Xylophanes tersa."
I reply, "Hi Michelle and Will,
"Thanks for thinking of me. You are correct! I request permission to post these beautiful pictures of the Xylophanes tersa larva to a Virginia Beach
thumbnail checklist which I will create??
Here is a link to my Minnesota Sphingidae page that might be helpful to Will."
Xylophanes tersa, fifth instar, Virginia Beach, Virginia,
June 26, 2012, courtesy of Michelle Rousselow and nephew Will Dooley.
On July 24, Michelle writes,
"Hi Bill,
"Just thought you might to see the fruit of our labor! After numerous daily trips outside to collect the right type of plant, our little guy grew and grew in a
bucket on the dining room table.
"He - for lack of the proper pronoun - started acting differently on July 4th. He stopped eating, and it was like he was licking himself all over. Then he gathered
the remaining wilting plants that were in his bowl and made himself a small, domed "tent." After that, he created his cocoon over the next couple of days.
"To my delight, he hatched late last night after creating a cocoon on July 6th. We found the moth on a bedroom curtain today. The beautiful moth has been
successfully relocated to my front porch so it can live out its life cycle. Thanks for aiding Will and me in our little project this summer!"
Xylophanes tersa, Virginia Beach, Virginia, July 24, 2012,
courtesy of Michelle Rousselow and nephew Will Dooley.
Thirty-seven Sphingidae species are listed for Virginia on the BAMONA website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Virginia Beach County (Two are reported on BAMONA as of June 27, 2012). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.
A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Virginia Beach County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present.
A "BAMONA" indicates the moth is reported on the BAMONA website and/or in Lepidoptera of North America, #1. Distribution of Silkmoths (Saturniidae) and Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) of Eastern North America, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.
Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an electronic image, via email to Bill Oehlke.
Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent on-line resource.
Sphinginae subfamily
Smerinthini Tribe:
Macroglossinae subfamilyDilophonotini tribe:
See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next two species.
Philampelini tribe:
Macroglossini tribe:
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