• Key Information

  • Hawk Moths

  • Species
    Sphingidae (1,450 species)
  • Diet
    Herbivore
  • Wingspan
    2 to 8 inches
  • Lifespan
    2 to 30 months as caterpillars, 1 to 2 months as adults
  • Classification
    Arthropoda > Insecta > Lepidoptera > Bombycoidea
  • Conservation Status
    Varies
  • Habitat
    Mostly tropical, but some warm temperate areas.
  • Learning Point
  • Hawk or Sphinx Moths, from the family Sphingidae, are a group of large moths, often with caterpillars that are themselves very large. They have a wide range of colours and shapes, and the caterpillars are often called "hornworms".
  • Project
  • Draw a picture of a Hawk Moth.
  • Location
  • Places
    Europe, Asia (Elephant Hawk Moth)
  • Fun Facts
  • Some Hawk moths can have wingspans up to 8 inches across.
  • Hawk moths prefer to feed on nectar in most cases, though some are known to even steal honey from bees!
  • Many of these types of moth have shapes and colours that make them beautiful, but also act as a warning or defense pattern against being eaten.