Did You Know?
All about sphinx moths
The wingspan of sphinx moths varies by species. Big poplars spread their wings 4 to 6 inches, while smaller sphinxes, like hummingbird clearwings, open to about 2 inches.
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A sphinx moth’s proboscis (tongue that sips nectar) may be more than 11 inches long on some large tropical species. Of the four hummingbird moths in the sphinx family, only two of them are commonly seen—the hummingbird clearwing and the snowberry clearwing. Five-spotted hawk moth caterpillars, also known as tomato hornworms, are driven by voracious appetites to feast on tomato, tobacco and potato plants. 30 Though not a bird (or a plane), sphinx moths move quickly. Snowberry clearwings have been clocked flying more than 30 mph. 4 Just like the fliers they resemble, sphinx moths prefer nectar-filled, tubeshaped flowers. Try these four: daturas, columbines, four-o’clocks and flowering tobacco.