Family: Sphingidae, Sphinx Moths view all from this family

Description Caterpillar, to 3 3/4" (95 mm), is green with diagonal white stripes and red horn at rear.

Life Cycle Caterpillar eats foliage of plants in the nightshade family, such as potato, tomato, and tobacco.

Flight July-October.

Habitat Wild or cultivated fields where herbaceous plants of the nightshade family are numerous.

Range Southern New England to Minnesota, south to the Gulf, southwest to Arizona; most common in the South.

Discussion This moth is also known as the "Carolina Sphinx" and "Six-spotted Sphinx." In southern tobacco-growing states the adult is called a "tobacco fly." Its caterpillars hatch from large green eggs and grow rapidly in 4-5 weeks. The pupae have a distinctive juglike handle. The related Rustic Sphinx (M. rustica), wingspan 4-5" (100-125 mm), is chocolate-brown, mottled with white, black, and yellow on its fore wings; it lacks distinct lines on its hind wings, and has 6 pairs of yellow spots on the abdomen. It is found from Virginia to Central America but often strays into northern states.