Spurge hawk-moth Facts for Kids

The Spurge hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae) is a type of moth found in Europe. It belongs to the Sphingidae family, also known as hawk-moths. This moth is sometimes used to help control a harmful plant called leafy spurge. The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, eat the leaves and other parts of this plant. Carl Linnaeus, a famous scientist, first described this moth in 1758.

{{Speciesbox | name = Spurge hawk-moth | image = Hyles euphorbiae 02.jpg | image_caption =Adult | image2 =CH Caterpillar.jpg | image2_caption =Larva | taxon = Hyles euphorbiae | authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

| synonyms =

Sphinx euphorbiae Linnaeus, 1758
Sphinx esulae Hufnagel, 1766
Deilephila esulae Boisduval, 1834
Celerio euphorbiae conspicua Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
Celerio euphorbiae giganteomaculata Gehlen, 1930
Celerio euphorbiae nigrofasciata Igel, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae decolorata (Closs, 1913)
Celerio euphorbiae cyparissiae Schultz, 1903
Celerio euphorbiae cyanea Wladasch, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae conspicuata Bandermann, 1926
Celerio euphorbiae confusa (Wladasch, 1939)
Celerio euphorbiae clossi Hannemann, 1917
Celerio euphorbiae cleopatra (Wladasch, 1931)
Celerio euphorbiae clementiae Bayard, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae canarina Wladasch, 1924
Celerio euphorbiae caecigena Bandermann, 1924
Celerio euphorbiae brunnescens Schultz, 1904
Celerio euphorbiae bilinea Schultz, 1904
Celerio euphorbiae bandermanni Wladasch, 1933
Celerio euphorbiae atrolimbata Dannehl, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae argustana Bandermann, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae apiciplaga Gehlen, 1930
Celerio euphorbiae annellata Closs, 1915
Celerio euphorbiae angustefasciata (Villarrubia, 1974)
Celerio euphorbiae ancestralis (Wladasch, 1939)
Celerio euphorbiae albicans (Closs, 1917)
Celerio euphorbiae demaculata Schultz, 1911
Celerio euphorbiae dolomiticola Stauder, 1930
Celerio euphorbiae effuscata (Wladasch, 1939)
Celerio euphorbiae elliana Bandermann, 1917
Celerio euphorbiae ernata Bandermann, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae farinata (Wladasch, 1931)
Celerio euphorbiae filapjewi O. Bang-Haas, 1936
Celerio euphorbiae flaveola Bandermann, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae flavidior Sohn-Rethel, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae galiata Bandermann, 1934
Celerio euphorbiae grentzenbergi-ziczac Wladasch, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae grisea (Closs, 1911)
Celerio euphorbiae grisearubea-saumoneae Wladasch, 1933
Celerio euphorbiae griseonympha Bandermann, 1924
Celerio euphorbiae heliophila (Wladasch, 1941)
Celerio euphorbiae ilia Bandermann, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae incarnate Wladasch, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae jachani (Closs, 1921)
Celerio euphorbiae krombachi (Closs, 1917)
Celerio euphorbiae latefasciata (Vilarrubia, 1974)
Celerio euphorbiae latefasciata Schultz, 1911
Celerio euphorbiae lilacina Wladasch, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae lucida Derzhavets, 1980
Celerio euphorbiae minor (Vilarrubia, 1974)
Celerio euphorbiae multicolor (Wladasch, 1931)
Celerio euphorbiae nebulosa Gehlen, 1930
Celerio euphorbiae nigerrima Gehlen, 1930
Celerio euphorbiae nigra Gehlen, 1932
Celerio euphorbiae nigrescens Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
Celerio euphorbiae nigricans Closs, 1917
Celerio euphorbiae nymphaea Bandermann, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae olivacea (Closs, 1917)
Celerio euphorbiae pallida Closs, 1913
Celerio euphorbiae perfulva Schultz, 1911
Celerio euphorbiae philippsi Bandermann, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae restricta Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
Celerio euphorbiae roseata Bandermann, 1931
Celerio euphorbiae rothschildi Stauder, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae rubescens-mediofasciata-olivacea Wladasch, 1933
Celerio euphorbiae rudolfi Bandermann, 1924
Celerio euphorbiae rufomelana Tutt, 1904
Celerio euphorbiae rühlii Bandermann, 1915
Celerio euphorbiae silesiana Wladasch, 1924
Celerio euphorbiae sinensis Closs, 1917
Celerio euphorbiae strasillai Stauder, 1921
Celerio euphorbiae suarezi Agenjo, 1952
Celerio euphorbiae subiacensis Dannehl, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae subvittata Schultz, 1911
Celerio euphorbiae suffusa Tutt, 1904
Celerio euphorbiae sulphurata Bandermann, 1925
Celerio euphorbiae testata Wladasch, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae typica-latifolei Wladasch, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae umbrata Gehlen, 1929
Celerio euphorbiae unimacula Closs, 1915
Celerio euphorbiae vandalusica Ribbe, 1910
Celerio euphorbiae variegata Closs, 1913
Celerio euphorbiae viereckana Bandermann, 1928
Celerio euphorbiae vinacea-reducta (Wladasch, 1941)
Celerio euphorbiae virescens Gehlen, 1930
Celerio euphorbiae viverina (Denso, 1908)
Celerio euphorbiae zableri Bandermann, 1934
Celerio euphorbiae ziczac Fritsch, 1912
Deilephila euphorbiae aczeli Bezsilla, 1943
Deilephila euphorbiae coniuncta Lütkemeyer, 1920
Deilephila euphorbiae cuspidata Rebel, 1908
Deilephila euphorbiae defecta Bartel, 1902
Deilephila euphorbiae etrusca Verity, 1911
Deilephila euphorbiae grentzenbergi Staudinger, 1885
Deilephila euphorbiae helioscopiae (de Selys-Longchamp, 1857)
Deilephila euphorbiae krancheri Bandermann, 1916
Deilephila euphorbiae lafitolii Thierry-Mieg, 1889
Deilephila euphorbiae mediofasciata Mayer, 1907
Deilephila euphorbiae mosana Lambillion, 1908
Deilephila euphorbiae nigerrima Sälzl, 1924
Deilephila euphorbiae oberthueri Bandermann, 1931
Deilephila euphorbiae paralias Nickerl, 1837
Deilephila euphorbiae rubescens Garbowski, 1892
Hyles euphorbiae gönneri Bandermann, 1915

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Appearance and Life Cycle
Types of Spurge Hawk-Moths
See also

Appearance and Life Cycle

Adult Moth Appearance

The Spurge hawk-moth has interesting patterns on its wings. Its forewings are mostly grey. They have an almost square-shaped blotch (a large spot) that is olive-brown. There is another olive-brown blotch near the base of the wing.

A long, slanted band of the same olive-brown color starts at the very tip of the wing. This band gets wider as it reaches the edge of the wing. The hind wings are pink with a black spot at the base. They also have a black band in the middle and a bright white spot at the corner near the body.

The main body and thorax (the part where the wings and legs attach) are olive-brown. A white line runs along each side of the thorax, right where the wings begin. This line continues along the head, above each eye, and meets at the front. The body also has two square black spots and two square white spots on each side near the base. Further back, there are three white lines on each side.

Caterpillar Appearance

The caterpillar (larva) of the Spurge hawk-moth is smooth and black. It has many tiny whitish dots all over its body. There are also eleven large white spots in a row on each side of its back. Below these, there are just as many spots of a bright coral-red color.

The caterpillar's head is also coral-red. A red line runs all the way along its back, from its head to its horn. The horn itself is red at the base and black at the tip. These caterpillars often feed on plants like sea-spurge.

Pupa Stage

After the caterpillar grows, it changes into a chrysalis, which is the pupa stage. The chrysalis is pale brown. It has delicate black lines and dots that look like a network pattern. The chrysalis usually buries itself in loose, dry sand, especially in coastal areas.

Eggs and Hatching

The eggs of the Spurge hawk-moth are covered with a sticky liquid. This liquid helps them stick to the small leaves of spurge plants. About two weeks after the eggs are laid, they hatch. Tiny black caterpillars emerge from the eggs.

As the caterpillars grow, their white and red spots appear, making them very colorful. In just a few weeks, they become quite beautiful and easy to spot. Because they are so noticeable, birds like sea-gulls and terns often eat them.

Egg
Larva
Male, dorsal side
Male, ventral side
Female, dorsal side
Female, ventral side

Types of Spurge Hawk-Moths

Within the Spurge hawk-moth species, there are different groups called subspecies. These groups have slight differences, often based on where they live.

Hyles euphorbiae euphorbiae
Hyles euphorbiae conspicua (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903) (found in the Middle East)

Spurge hawk-moth facts for kids

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