Hawk moth is a member of a worldwide family of large, brightly colored moths that are also called sphinx moths. These moths have powerful, streamlined bodies; long, slender front wings; and small hind wings. They fly quickly and skillfully, hovering in front of flowers and sucking nectar, much like hummingbirds. For this reason they are sometimes called hummingbird moths. A hawk moth sips nectar through its proboscis, a coiled tube extending from the mouth. The proboscis of one species reaches 10 inches (25 centimeters) in length.
The caterpillars often have a sharp horn at the rear end, and are called hornworms. When the caterpillars rest, they raise the front part of their body. In profile, they look like the Egyptian sphinx. They spend their pupal stage in the soil, and do not spin cocoons.
See also Death’s-head moth.
