Another potential garden pest ID

Francis Barnswallow · Mon Nov 05, 2012 5:41 am

Never seen one of these before. It was about 4 inches wide (wing tip to wing tip) with lots of fur on its head and back. It is awesome looking. Didn't kill it yet, but that's up to you guys.

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v700/obiadia/DSCN0008.jpg[/img]

applestar · Mon Nov 05, 2012 6:30 am

Wow it's beautiful

It looks like what's often called hawk moth -- also sphinx moth and hummingbird moth. But I don't know the exact species. Pest or not determination will depend on accurate ID.

Definitely not tobacco or tomato hornworm which are grey unimpressive looking moths.

Francis Barnswallow · Mon Nov 05, 2012 7:46 am

Well that's good news....especially for the moth. It was completely unafraid of me when I approached it. It climbed into my hand and I pet its fur (never petted a moth before) and then set it free.

rainbowgardener · Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:16 am

Wellll .... If it were a white lined sphinx, it would be sort of a problem. the adult moth only eats nectar. The white lined sphinx is aka hummingbird moth. This is its caterpillar:

[img]https://www.birds-n-garden.com/butterfly/wlsm_caterpillar.jpg[/img]

If it isn't a hornworm it is at least a close relative. It is known as a voracious eater of leaves of tomato, pepper, tobacco.

But I'm not sure of the id. Here's a picture of the white lined sphinx:

[img]https://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/Nature/Moths/WhiteLinedSphinxMothFlying.jpg[/img]

to me it looks a bit different from yours

DoubleDogFarm · Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:00 am

Here we go. " Eumorpha fasciatus"

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pholus+ ... 24&bih=677

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Eumorpha-vitis

[img]https://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/EumorphafasciatusPottawatomiecg.jpg[/img]

Eric

HonoluluGirl · Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:00 am

Wow, pretty... and scary! I would have freaked out!

jal_ut · Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:54 am

Looks like a Hummingbird Moth. As might be imagined, there are several of this group that have been labeled Hummingbird Moth. The adult won't hurt your plants, I can't say about the larvae. Sometimes larvae are species specific.

rainbowgardener · Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:56 pm

Yeah, Eric's link says in English this is vine sphinx and its caterpillar is a pest of grapevines. So presuming Francis isn't growing grapes, he is in the clear.

Good job, Eric!

applestar · Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:10 pm

Nice! The map at the butterfliesandmoths link indicate sightings in NJ.
Maybe I'll get to see one if they find the wild grapes.

Francis Barnswallow · Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:53 am

I do grow grapes on the side of my house. But every year rats always eat all the grapes.

applestar · Tue Nov 06, 2012 2:04 am

That's terrible. But then you may not mind letting beautiful moth make use of the leaves.

Have you tried bagging or caging the fruit clusters?

Francis Barnswallow · Tue Nov 06, 2012 5:25 am

Have you tried bagging or caging the fruit clusters?

The vines take up one side of my two story house. I'm sure the rats would chew through the bags (not to mention it would take forever for me to bag the clusters). If it weren't for the rats, (and maybe even squirrels), I literally would have enough grapes to fill a kitchen garbage can bag.

I've tried traps repeatedly but they keep coming back.