White-Lined Sphinx Moth – Hyles lineata

I found a White Lined Sphinx caterpillar in a dry sand prairie in Pierce County, Wisconsin, in August 2007.

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Hyles lineata caterpillar

Hyles lineata
Hyles lineata caterpillar

It was eating Wild Four-O’Clock – Mirabilis nyctaginea.  David Wagner says that the caterpillars are “exceptionally variable” in patterning.  This one is certainly very different from MJ’s White-lined Sphinx caterpillar.

I took the caterpillar home, and it pupated almost immediately.

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Hyles lineata pupa

About 10 days later, it hatched into an adult moth.

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Hyles lineata adult
Hyles lineata adult
Hyles lineata adult

Marcie O’Connor

Buffalo County, Wisconsin