List of moths of Australia (Sphingidae) facts for kids

Did you know that Australia is home to many amazing insects, including a special group of moths called hawk-moths? These moths belong to a family known as Sphingidae. They are often called hawk-moths because of how fast and strongly they fly, much like a hawk! Sometimes, they are also called sphinx moths because their caterpillars can stand up with their front part raised, looking a bit like the ancient Egyptian sphinx. This article will help you discover some of the incredible hawk-moth species found in Australia. It's part of a bigger list of all the moths in Australia.

Australian Hawk-Moths (Sphingidae)

Hawk-moths are a fascinating group of moths known for their large size, strong bodies, and narrow, powerful wings. Many of them are excellent flyers and can hover in front of flowers, just like hummingbirds, to drink nectar with their long, tube-like mouthparts called a proboscis. This makes them important pollinators for many plants.

Life Cycle of Hawk-Moths

Like all moths, hawk-moths go through a complete metamorphosis with four stages:

• Egg: Female moths lay tiny eggs, usually on the leaves of specific plants.
• Larva (Caterpillar): Once the eggs hatch, a caterpillar emerges. These caterpillars are often large and can be quite colorful. Many have a distinctive "horn" at their rear end, which is harmless. They spend their time eating leaves to grow big and strong.
• Pupa: After growing enough, the caterpillar changes into a pupa. This stage is often spent underground or in a loose cocoon, where the amazing transformation into an adult moth happens.
• Adult: Finally, the adult hawk-moth emerges from the pupa. These are the beautiful flying insects we often see at dusk or night, though some species fly during the day.

Macroglossinae Moths

This group of hawk-moths often includes species that are active during the day or at dusk. Many of them are known for their fast, darting flight.

• Acosmeryx anceus (Stoll, 1781)
• Acosmeryx miskini (Murray, 1873)
• Angonyx excellens (Rothschild, 1911)
• Angonyx papuana Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
• Cephonodes hylas (Linnaeus, 1771)
• Cephonodes janus (Miskin, 1891)
• Cephonodes kingii (W.S. Macleay, 1826)
• Cephonodes picus (Cramer, 1777)
• Cizara ardeniae (Lewin, 1805)
• Daphnis dohertyi Rothschild, 1897
• Daphnis hypothous (Cramer, 1780)
• Daphnis moorei (W.J. Macleay, 1866)
• Daphnis placida (Walker, 1856)
• Daphnis protrudens R. Felder, 1874
• Eupanacra splendens (Rothschild, 1894)
• Gnathothlibus eras (Boisduval, 1832)
• Gnathothlibus erotus (Cramer, 1777)
• Gnathothlibus australiensis Lachlan, 2004
• Hippotion boerhaviae (Fabricius, 1775)
• Hippotion brennus (Stoll, 1782)
• Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Hippotion rosetta (Swinhoe, 1892)
• Hippotion scrofa (Boisduval, 1832)
• Hippotion velox (Fabricius, 1793)
• Hyles livornicoides (T.P. Lucas, 1892)
• Macroglossum alcedo (Boisduval, 1832)
• Macroglossum corythus (Walker, 1856)
• Macroglossum dohertyi (Rothschild, 1894)
• Macroglossum heliophila (Boisduval, 1875)
• Macroglossum hirundo (Boisduval, 1832)
• Macroglossum insipida (Butler, 1875)
• Macroglossum joannisi Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
• Macroglossum micacea (Walker, 1856)
• Macroglossum nubilum Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
• Macroglossum prometheus (Boisduval, 1875)
• Macroglossum rectans Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
• Macroglossum tenebrosa (T.P. Lucas, 1891)
• Macroglossum vacillans (Walker, 1865)
• Nephele hespera (Fabricius, 1775)
• Nephele subvaria (Walker, 1856)
• Theretra clotho (Drury, 1773)
• Theretra indistincta (Butler, 1877)
• Theretra inornata (Walker, 1865)
• Theretra latreillii (W.S. Macleay, 1826)
• Theretra margarita (Kirby, 1877)
• Theretra nessus (Drury, 1773)
• Theretra oldenlandiae (Fabricius, 1775)
• Theretra queenslandi (T.P. Lucas, 1891)
• Theretra radiosa Rothschild & Jordan, 1916
• Theretra silhetensis (Walker, 1856)
• Theretra tryoni (Miskin, 1891)
• Theretra turneri (T.P. Lucas, 1891)
• Zacria vojtechi Haxaire & Melichar, 2003

Smerinthinae Moths

Moths in the Smerinthinae subfamily often have unique wing shapes and patterns that help them blend in with their surroundings. Some species have "eye spots" on their hindwings, which they can flash to scare away predators.

• Ambulyx dohertyi Rothschild, 1894
• Ambulyx wildei Miskin, 1891
• Coenotes eremophilae (T.P. Lucas, 1891)
• Coequosa australasiae (Donovan, 1805)
• Coequosa triangularis (Donovan, 1805)
• Hopliocnema brachycera (Lower, 1897)
• Imber tropicus Moulds, 1983
• Synoecha marmorata (T.P. Lucas, 1891)
• Tetrachroa edwardsi (Olliff, 1890)

Sphinginae Moths

The Sphinginae subfamily includes some of the largest hawk-moths. Many of these are strong flyers and are often seen visiting flowers at dusk or during the night.

• Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Agrius godarti W.S. Macleay, 1826
• Leucomonia bethia (Kirby, 1877)
• Meganoton rufescens (Butler, 1875)
• Psilogramma argos Moulds & Lane, 1999
• Psilogramma casuarinae (Walker, 1856) (previously misidentified as Psilogramma menephron (Cramer, 1780))
• Psilogramma increta (Walker, 1865)
• Psilogramma exigua Brechlin, Lane & Kitching, 2010
• Psilogramma koalae Eitschberger, 2001
• Psilogramma gloriosa Eitschberger, 2001
• Psilogramma maxmouldsi Eitschberger, 2001
• Psilogramma nebulosa Butler, 1876
• Psilogramma papuensis Brechlin, 2001
• Psilogramma penumbra Lane, Moulds & Tuttle, 2011