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Green Hawk Moth

Pergesa acteus

Photo by Jolly Ibañez
Published on Project Noah
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NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Week0
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Field Notes

Notes:

I took care of the caterpillar which was about to be smashed by the gardener and fed it in a plastic container until it pupated and yesterday it emerged to become this beautiful moth. I have already released it into the wild last night. I still have 3 more which emerged this morning and their wings are starting to unfold slowly. I have documented its metamorphosis from caterpillar to chrysalis to adulthood. It was an experience like no other.

Reference Links:

Pergesa acteus, Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic - Pergesa acteus

Species ID Suggestions

Green Hawk Moth

Pergesa acteus

Reference Link
Jacob Gorneau
3

Comments (76)
Jolly Ibañez
Thanks MeredithNudo, Adarsha B S and LaurenZarate
LaurenZarate
Wonderful series and both the caterpillars and the moths are gorgeous! Congratulations on your success.
Fyn Kynd
Wicked Moth! Great story too! :D
Sergio Monteiro
I saw this one when you posted it. Next time, I'll try harder to stay awake... :-)
Maria dB
Thanks so much for sharing the update, Jolly. They are beautiful and it's great you were able to release them.
Jolly Ibañez
Update: The 2 caterpillars which was given to me last July 31 pupated August 3 and emerged August 18. It took them 15 days to emerge and turned out to be green hawk moths. I was a bit late to document while they were emerging. They were already out of the chrysalis when I noticed them. They were released into the wild yesterday August 19. Pictures #2 to #5 are the newly emerged moths.
Jolly Ibañez
After the 3 died, a neighbor came by and handed me 2 caterpillars. Instead of killing it, they decided to give it to me. I think its also a green hawk moth. Stay put folks for updates.
bayucca
Sorry about the sad end of this beautiful story. You did your best! The survivor will be King of Pergasa!
Jolly Ibañez
Update: The last 3 moths that failed to open their wings already died. I placed them in the freezer until I can find a preservative for them for future study.
Maria dB
So interesting! Congratulations and thanks for sharing this with us.
Jolly Ibañez
Thanks bayucca. I placed them out in the patio with some flowers. I hope they will feed. If its a malformation, it would be added information on the species since nobody ever notices them when they emerge in the wild.
bayucca
Congrats as well. What a wonderful shot!! Looks really like being more a malformation than mal-inflation.
Jolly Ibañez
Update: The three remaining moths failed to spread their wings after 36 hours. I have uploaded new pictures #3 & #4. My next course of action is to bring the moths to a flower garden and hope they will feed before they starve to death. Any suggestion is welcome.
HemaShah
Great work and awesome colors in the moth!
PamelaLim
Wonderful, Jolly! Do post up your 'rescues' of other caterpillars & thank you again for sharing the way it's done! I'm going to rescue those on the island when they emerge. Cheerio!
Jolly Ibañez
Thanks CarolSnowMilne, Sumukha Javagal, williefromwi and NuwanChathuranga.
Atul
wow congrats Jolly!
Jolly Ibañez
Thank you for this recognition. I'm deeply honored to have this spotting as Spotting of the Day! My patience in taking care of the caterpillars paid off. Rest assured I will continue to rescue every animal I encounter that is in danger. Again, Thanks for this recognition.
Yasser
Jolly, congratulations on having this awesome series selected as Spotting of the Day during Moth Week! This is a beautiful moth with a great story and we hope you keep us updated! Thanks for all your wonderful contributions. "The Green Hawk moth belongs to the family Sphingidae, which includes about 1,450 species of hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms." Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/posts/505514406140659 Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/229271023093182464
Photographed
PublishedJuly 28, 2012

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