Huge pupae
Location: Crete, Greece
October 17, 2010 2:28 am
Dear Bugman,
This large (over 7cm) pupae dropped from a large flower pot I moved this morning. I think it may be from the hawk-moth family as it is so big!!
Can you identify it for me please and satisfy my curiosity.
Think your site is great for info – thanks.
Signature: Cathy P
Hi Cathy,
This is the pupa of an Oleander Hawkmoth, Deilephila nerii or Daphnis nerii, which we just identified on the Sphingidae of the Americas website. Coincidentally, we just posted two photos of an adult Oleander Hawkmoth that were sent to us from Hawaii. The Oleander Hawkmoth is native to the Mediterranean region, but the cultivation of oleander as a garden plant has resulted in the range expansion, including Hawaii sometime before 1974.
