Five-Spotted Hawk Moth vs Small Elephant Hawk Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Five-Spotted Hawk Moth | Small Elephant Hawk Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Manduca quinquemaculata | Deilephila porcellus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Sphingidae |
| Size | 95-130 mm wingspan | 40-52 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Throughout North America | Europe, Central Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Five-Spotted Hawk Moth
A large mottled gray moth whose caterpillar is the familiar tomato hornworm with a distinctive black horn. The adult has five pairs of yellow-orange spots on its abdomen.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillar is frequently confused with the tobacco hornworm but can be distinguished by its V-shaped white markings instead of diagonal stripes.
Small Elephant Hawk Moth
A smaller relative of the elephant hawk moth, with delicate pink and yellow-olive coloring. It is found in grasslands and meadows where bedstraw grows abundantly.
Did You Know?
Despite being called 'small,' this moth is still impressively sized compared to most Lepidoptera, with a wingspan approaching that of many butterfly species.