Probably Hawk Moth Pupa

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Subject:  Wierd cocoon thing?
Geographic location of the bug:  Broulee NSW Australia
Date: 01/24/2018
Time: 11:43 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Found this in a pile of raked up leaves in the middle of summer. The top part that seems to be segments was twitching back and forth when disturbed.
How you want your letter signed:  Kell

Probably Hawk Moth Pupa

Dear Kell,
This pupa will eventually become a very large moth.  We do not believe it is in the family Saturniidae.  We suspect it is a Sphinx Moth or Hawkmoth in the family Sphingidae.  Moths in this family do not spin cocoons.  They produce a naked pupa like the one you found, and it is generally underground or among leaf litter.  Many Sphingidae pupae are pictured on Butterfly House.

3 thoughts on “Probably Hawk Moth Pupa”

  1. Spectacular pupa. Yes, I agree, it seems to be a Sphingid species – one from the Smerinthinae subfamily. – And I highly suspect Coequosa triangularis or C. australasiae. – Maybe there are some big trees with elongate leafs in the area?

    Thanks for sharing and best wishes from Ulm on the Danube river,
    Bostjan

    Reply

  2. Spectacular pupa. Yes, I agree, it seems to be a Sphingid species – one from the Smerinthinae subfamily. – And I highly suspect Coequosa triangularis or C. australasiae. – Maybe there are some big trees with elongate leafs in the area?

    Thanks for sharing and best wishes from Ulm on the Danube river,
    Bostjan

    Reply

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