National Moth Week: Pluto Sphinx Moth (Xylophanes pluto)
Pluto Sphinx Moth ( Xylophanes pluto ) nectaring on one of its host plants, Florida Firebush ( Hamelia patens var. patens ). Photo by iNaturalist user Al Tuttle, CC BY-NC 4.0 While the celestial body of Pluto may have been demoted from a planet to a dwarf planet over 10 years ago, the Pluto Sphinx moth continues to earn respect as a nocturnal invertebrate named after none other than the Roman god of the underworld. It’s a standout at every stage of its lifecycle, too. Have you ever been gardening and been startled to see two buggy eyes staring at you from the leaves? It might’ve been a Pluto Sphinx moth caterpillar, which has a great defense mechanism in the form of two large fake eyes that make it appear much more formidable than it actually is. Moths like the Pluto Sphinx deserve credit for being important pollinators for many wild and cultivated plants, including wild verbena. Pluto Sphinx Moth caterpillar ( Xylophanes pluto ) in Costa Rica. Photo by iNat...