Our summer fundraiser has arrived, and we need your help!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
Yam hawkmoth
Theretra nessus (Drury, 1773)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily:
Identification: An unmistakable species, characterized by the green band along the costal margin of the forewing upperside (which fades in museum specimens), the falcate apex of the forewing and the pair of broad, deep golden lateral stripes on the abdomen. Head and thorax olive-green, thorax suffused with ferruginous; a grey lateral stripe from palpus to end of thorax. Labial palp segment two more triangular than in other Theretra species; opening between segments 1 and 2 large, with some single long scales protruding. Outer row of forebasitarsal spines doubled and tripled.
Wing Span: 3.6-4.8 cm
Life History:
Flight:
Caterpillar Hosts:
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: It is found in Sri Lanka, India (including the Andaman and Nicobar islands), Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, northern Australia and New Caledonia.[2] It is a recent immigrant in Oahu.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments:
National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022!
Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live. Learn more.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 verified sightings

Observation date: Aug 07, 2011
Submitted by: troyandamy928@c...
Region: Anoka County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022

Observation date: Dec 13, 2014
Submitted by: Punawild
Region: Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022

Observation date: Nov 15, 2014
Submitted by: aimberi
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022

Observation date: Apr 23, 2016
Submitted by: Sj7019
Region: Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022