Caterpillar on an Evening Primrose - Hyles lineata - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Macroglossinae » Macroglossini » Hyles » White-lined Sphinx - Hodges#7894 (Hyles lineata)

Photo#73456

Copyright © 2006 Linda Barnhart

Caterpillar on an Evening Primrose - Hyles lineata

Renton, King County, Washington, USA
August 26, 2006
Size: 2 1/2 inches

This beautiful caterpillar has been on the same Evening Primrose plant for two days and nights happily eating away. I would like to know what he will eventually be in his winged life. Thank you, Linda

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Contributed by Linda Barnhart on 28 August, 2006 - 1:13am
Last updated 28 August, 2006 - 11:44am

Nice photo

of Hyles sphinx moth of some type, I'd guess. The host plant info and the horn on the tail are clues.

Closest match I can find here is to Hyles lineata (which feeds on evening primrose), but the match is not that close and the white-lined sphinx seems to be an eastern moth. You might have some western equivalent.

See the interesting discussion and contrasting photos of white-lined sphinx by Hannah Nendick-Mason here .

Someone will ID this caterpillar, I think... inspired by your lovely telltale photo.

… Jack Connor, 28 August, 2006 - 5:47am

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I think H. lineata is a good match

- it's very variable in coloration, the hostplant is right, and it is widespread across the US (see guide page). Wagner(1) lists the yellow horn and the speckled head as consistent features for ID. Also, according to BMNA the only other Hyles in Washington state is H. gallii, which has a red horn, among other differences.

Moving to guide. Thanks for your contribution!

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 28 August, 2006 - 6:35am

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Thank you, Hannah,

for the details and clarification -- and for the extra tip about the guide page.

Interesting variability in that caterpillar.

… Jack Connor, 28 August, 2006 - 7:53am

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I learned a lot more than I knew before, while checking this out

and have updated the relevant guide pages accordingly. : )

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 28 August, 2006 - 10:21am

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Thank you

I can't tell you how impressed I am with this site and so are my three grandchildren who are spending a few days with me. Thank you so much!

… Linda Barnhart, 28 August, 2006 - 11:13am

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