The word ‘pollinator’
conjures up images of Honey Bees. But
the world of pollinators is far more complex.
Our Garden Pollinators series features some of the many interesting
pollinators seen in Western Colorado gardens.
For more on pollinators in general – and tips for attracting them to
your garden – see: https://mothernaturesmontrosegarden.blogspot.com/2020/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html
Some of the more interesting
garden pollinators are those that specialize in certain groups of
plants. If you visit your garden in the evening
– or on a cloudy day – you may have noticed large pollinators visiting flowers
that bloom mostly at dawn or dusk. You
might at first mistake them for late-flying hummingbirds. But a closer look reveals
their true identity: these are actually large moths!
The White-lined Sphynx Moth
is one of the most common large moths in the United States. Their native range stretches from Central
America to Southern Canada and they can be found throughout the U.S. except for
northern Maine. They are very common in the Four Corners states. If you grow flowers
that attract them (and there are many), you will certainly see them flying
during the warm months of the year. In
the warmest parts of the South they may fly all year long.
Hyles
lineata belongs
to the Family of moths sometimes known as Hawk moths or Sphinx moths (the
Family Sphingidae). The family also contains the Tomato hornworm, the bane
of tomato gardeners. The Sphingidae
are known for their large bodies, excellent flight skills and nocturnal habits.
The adults feed on nectar, often from sweetly scented plants with pale,
trumpet-shaped flowers. They are some of the most interesting and beautiful of
the moths.
Male and female adults look the same (see above and references 1 and 2, below). They are large moths, with a wingspan of 2 7/16 to 3 9/16 inches (6.3 - 9 cm). The upper side of the upper wing (forewing) is a dark olive brown, with tan bands running down the edges and a prominent tan-gold band stretching down the center, from wingtip to body. There are also white horizontal streaks along the veins. The upper side of the hindwing is darker (dark brown to black) with a prominent pink to orange band. The adults look pretty much the same throughout their range.
The larvae (caterpillars)
are more variable. The photo above shows
a typical form in our Western Colorado garden.
But the larvae may be more black, yellow-black or green-black than the
example. According to SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (see ref. 3; excellent photos)
“This
is one of our more variable caterpillars. The larva has about four different
distinct forms (black, yellow-black, green, green-black), with different
amounts of splotching or patterning. In some forms, the black may be reduced and
the ground color may be more dominant. In other forms, the splotching of color
may blend together and look like shading more than splotches.” [3]
To attract adults, plant
some of their favorite nectar sources. Fortunately, there are many excellent
plants to choose from. These include cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis),
columbine, honeysuckle, hosta, Jimson weed (Datura), lilac, penstemon,
petunia, and phlox. Also favored are evening
primrose species (Oenothera spp.), four-o’clocks (Mirabilis species),
fuchsia, Gaura lindheimeri, moonvine, bouncing bet, clovers
and thistles. For California gardeners, native plants include
sand verbena (Abronia umbellata), wishbone plant (Mirabilis
californica and other species of Mirabilis), native
Salvias and the Camissonias (Sun-cups).
Adults lay their eggs (often
two broods a year) on larval food plants. The newly hatched larvae have a ready
source of food. The caterpillars tend to favor low-growing, shrubby plants.
These include many of the plants visited by adults, including willow herb (Epilobium),
four o'clocks (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera),
elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon),
purslane (Portulaca) and Fuchsia.
While the caterpillars eat
the foliage of host plants, there are rarely enough of them to do significant
harm. The caterpillars grow from very small to 2-3 inches in length. In late summer and early fall, the
caterpillars are often seen migrating along the ground, sometimes in large
numbers in the U.S. Southwest. It is
thought that they migrate to find softer soils in which to bury
themselves. The adults then emerge from
the soil.
There are many reasons to
attract White-lined sphinx moth to your garden. They are fairly good pollinators,
particularly for those dawn- and dusk-blooming plants. They are fun to watch, and big enough for
even kids and elders to follow their movements.
Sphinx moths are quite remarkable fliers. Like hummingbirds, they must beat their wings
rapidly to support their large bodies.
They use both visual and scent cues to navigate, and can maneuver, like
hummingbirds, by adjusting their wing pitch (see above photo).
To really appreciate these fascinating
pollinators, you’ll need to slow them down. The best way is to photograph them
with camera or cell phone. Pictures allow you to see the intricate wing and
body colors. Look at the long tongue (above)
through which nectar is sipped. Most Hyles
lineata have very long tongues, allowing them to access food from the base
of tubular flowers. But in some areas,
there are individuals with shorter tongues. A photograph can be used to
discover if you have both types!
The larvae were eaten by
native peoples of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. The Cahuilla and Tohono
O’odham roasted the caterpillars for a tasty treat. While you may not want to
partake in the feast, this is yet another interesting fact associated with
White-lined sphinx moths.
_____________________
- http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7894
- http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/lepidopt/sphingid/HylesLineata.htm (California)
- https://www.sphingidae.us/hyles-lineata.html
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We welcome your comments (below). You can also send your questions to: monaturesmontrosegarden@gmail.com
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