Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1231533

Spurge hawkmoth
Hyles euphorbiae

Observation date: September 01, 2019
Submitted by: Bausch1010
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: I saw a large caterpillar walking across the road. I stopped to show the kids and noticed it was something that I had never seen before. I posted it on Facebook and had many guesses but very few right answers. After finding out it was a Leafy Spurge eating caterpillar, I decided to return it to some spurge and I picked the right place to stop. There were at least 7 other adults and a bunch of babies. They were doing well at eating the plants and there was not a large population of plants at that location to justify so many caterpillars.
Status: Nonresident
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: September 04, 2021
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): United States, North Dakota, Traill County