Cool Bug: "Pandorus Sphinx Moth".. visiting my veggie garden

[CrimsonFox36]

it's so beautiful!! X3

[GameICY]

very cool looking moth.

[Tanminator]

beatiful creature dude ;D!! nice catch

[OrganicGarden123]

ANSWER: This is a "Pandorus Sphinx Moth" (Eumorpha pandorus). (For a while we thought it was "Oleandar Hawk Moth", an African-Asian moth never before seen in North America, very exciting to see it.... but alas this is a more common Pandorus Sphinx moth, but still just as beautiful).

[darkmage2009]

Make sure your wife doesn't mention a Ramblings Tainted Oleander Hawk Moth when she tries to report it. They'll think she's nuts. Try this number - they'll give you a better idea if there is a local insect database (perhaps run out of a college/university) that would be interested in the video and your location. Who knows? You may not be the only one reporting this same species in your area.

N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife

609-292-2965

[darkmage2009]

Not so fast on the title there :).... the 'ramblings tainted' was simply the name of the website I was trying to steer you toward without being able to post the link. It was "Ramblings of the Tainted Mind" or something like that. Somebody's personal blog, I think.

The moth is simply an Oleandar Hawk Moth. I know you just changed it, but you should change it again.

Glad you left the video on here!

[darkmage2009]

(2 of 2) a much stranger appearance. Links can't be posted on here, but paste this phrase into Google and click on the first hit for a photo of your variation:

ramblings tainted oleandar hawk

Now for the important question: where are you? Oleander Hawk Moths are found in wide areas of Africa and Asia. It is a migratory species, flying to parts of Europe during the summer. If you are in North American, you have a real find here which should be reported to local conservation authorities.

[OrganicGarden123]

@darkmage2009: YES, from the image online, this DOES indeed appear to be a "Ramblings Tainted Oleandar Hawk Moth". THANKS!

I am in New Jersey, in northeastern United States, very far from this moth's normal area of Africa and Asia.

I only saw him here that one morning, like he was sleeping/resting on a leaf of a cucumber or gourd in my vegetable garden. I took a few photos and this video. Then he flew away.

Thanks for identification! My wife is trying to see who to report this to.

[darkmage2009]

(1 of 2) Greetings OrganicGarden123,

I am an insectologist in Niagara Falls, Ontario. What you have there is an Oleander Hawk Moth. Do a quick search in Google images and you'll find that there is quite a dramatic range to color variations for this moth. They literally change from region to region geographically, making for a difficult identification. I suspect you filmed this one early in the morning, or under conditions where there was enough moisture to curl the wings. This gives it

[sugerbear520]

moth i think