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Banded Sphinx Caterpillars: light and dark morphs

Posted by October 19th, 2009 at 9:55 pm

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Hornworms

Very Pretty Caterpillar
October 19, 2009
Hello, I found alot of these caterpillars all living on the same type of weed on my property. They are in various colors. I even found one with wasp eggs attached.
Frankie B Norris
Central Florida

banded sphinx cat frankie 300x195 Banded Sphinx Caterpillars:  light and dark morphs

Banded Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Frankie,
The Banded Sphinx, Eumorpha fasciatus, is one of several Sphinx Moths with highly variable caterpillars.  Though the darker colorful caterpillar is a version well represented in our archives, we believe the lighter morph is a new color variation that is not represented in our archives.  Bill Oehlke’s excellent website illustrates both of these color variations as well as several others.  The Banded Sphinx Caterpillars are known to feed on “primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). Grapes also serve as larval hosts.”

banded sphinx cat light frankie1 300x221 Banded Sphinx Caterpillars:  light and dark morphs

Banded Sphinx Caterpillar

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