Oleander Hawk-moth

Oleander Hawk-moth
English Common Name
Oleander Hawk-moth
Scientific name
Daphnis nerii
Taxonomy
Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Sphingidae
Size
About 4 cm (size of wings)
Species Distribution
In Japan, the species is known to be settled in Okinawa, Aka, Miyako and Ishigaki Islands
Up until the 1960s, this species was thought to only be found in Japan due to getting lost during migration. After 1974, the species was considered permanently settled in Japan. As you find in Japanese common name, it feeds on plant called Kyochikutou, Nerium oleander, during larvae stage.
The oleander hawk-moth tolerates strong toxins in N. oleander without negative effects. These days, the species is found in Kyushu, Shikoku and Kinki areas of Japan. The distribution is thought to be moving northward.

Updated October 2020

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