Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth
Common NameLeafy Spurge Hawkmoth
Scientific NameHyles euphorbiae
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)75
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, pink, cream, black
HabitatOpen, sunny areas, dry grasslands, sandy soils, roadsides, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeNative to Europe, Asia, and North Africa; introduced to North America (USA and Canada)
Host PlantsLeafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula), Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias), other Euphorbia species
Flight PeriodMay to September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants. Larvae are striking, black with yellow spots and a red head and horn, feeding openly on spurge. They pupate in a shallow burrow in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive olive-brown and creamy-tan diagonal stripe on the forewings, and the bright pink hindwings with a black base. The large, colorful larvae are also highly characteristic.
Description
This moth has olive-brown forewings with a broad, creamy-tan stripe running diagonally, and a pinkish-brown basal area. The hindwings are predominantly pink with a black patch near the body and a dark marginal band.
