sphingids

Sphingidae, commonly known as hawk moths or sphinx moths, is a family of moths in the order Lepidoptera. The group contains hundreds of described species distributed worldwide, with greatest diversity in the tropics. Sphingids are typically medium to large moths with strong, streamlined bodies and relatively long, narrow wings. Many possess cryptic coloration that helps them blend with bark or leaves, while a few species show striking patterns or eye spots.

Adults are powerful fliers and many can hover in place, feeding on nectar with long proboscises. This adaptation enables pollination of flowers with long corolla tubes. Most sphingids are nocturnal or crepuscular, though several tropical species are active during the day. Larvae are commonly called hornworms because most species bear a horn on the posterior end. They feed on a wide range of host plants, including members of Solanaceae (such as tobacco and tomato), Rubiaceae, and Oleaceae. Pupation usually occurs in the soil or leaf litter.

Notable features and examples include the death's-head hawkmoth (Acherontia spp.), and the long-tongued hawk moth Xanthopan morganii praedicta, a species whose long proboscis was once predicted by Darwin to pollinate an orchid with a deep nectar spur. Ecologically, sphingids serve as pollinators for many flowers and as prey for birds, bats, and other predators. Some species, especially larval stages, are agricultural pests, while others contribute to ecosystem functioning and biodiversity and are attracted to lights in human-modified landscapes.