Tersa Sphinx Moth Surprise!
February 26, 2022 8 Comments
In late November we rescued this Tersa sphinx moth caterpillar from the top of our trash can. How it got there I’ll never know. We placed it in a safe big aquarium with lots of leaves and sticks. It turned into a pupa shortly thereafter and emerged last week. We released it into the garden and it flew away at dusk. This moth (Xylophanes tersa) is a kind of hawk or hummingbird moth that drinks nectar at night. What a beauty!
Tersa Sphinx Moth Caterpillar on Hand (front view with eye spots) on November 20, 2021 (Xylophanes tersa)
Tersa Sphinx Moth Caterpillar on Hand (side view) on November 20, 2021 (Xylophanes tersa)
Tersa Sphinx Moth Emerged from Pupa (side view) on February 19, 2022 side view (Xylophanes tersa)
Tersa Sphinx Moth Pupa on December 5, 2021 (Xylophanes tersa)
Tersa Sphinx Moth Emerged from Pupa (front head view) on February 19, 2022 side view (Xylophanes tersa)
About Pam
naturetime 
You are obviously good caretakers! Fascinating transformation.
It was such a treat!
Cool! It’s beautiful as a caterpillar and a moth.
Thank you! It was the best surprise!
How exciting to be able to watch this amazing metamorphosis.
It was beautiful!
WOW! Cool click and interesting text! Bye. K
Thanks!