Agrius convolvuli

Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758)
(one synonym : Herse abadonna)
SPHINGINAE , SPHINGIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

Agrius convolvuli
young instar
(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Queensland)

Initially the Caterpillars of this species are green with a straight tail horn. Later instars can become either green or dark brown.

(Photo: courtesy of Ken Harris, Morwell Park, Victoria)

Both forms develop pale diagonal stripes along the sides, and a backward curving horn on the tail. They differ from Caterpillars of many other SPHINGIDAE species in having no eye-spots on the abdomen, but having vertical stripes on the head.

(Photo: courtesy of Jutta Godwin, Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network, Brisbane)

These caterpillars feed on the foliage of many plants in the family CONVOLVULACEAE. They are a pest in New Guinea and Indonesia on :

Sweet Potato ( Ipomoea batatas ),

and also have been found on:

Mile-a-Minute ( Ipomoea cairica ),

Scarlet Morning Glory ( Ipomoea hederifolia ),

Blue Dawn Flower ( Ipomoea indica ), and

Alamo Vine ( Merremia dissecta ).

The caterpillars have also been reported as feeding on :

Flannel Weed ( Abutilon oxycarpum, MALVACEAE ),

Pineapple Sage ( Salvia elegans, LAMIACEAE ), and

Oregano ( Origanum vulgare, LAMIACEAE ).

pupa
(Photo: courtesy of Tom and David Sleep, Queensland)

The caterpillar may walk up to 300 metres from the food plant to pupate. It pupates in a cell in the soil. The pupa has a long looped compartment for the developing haustellum.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The adult moths of this species are grey with with a complex light and dark pattern on the wings. The abdomen has pink patches on the side of each segment.
They can hover in flight, and they have a long haustellum, which is extended to suck nectar when they hover over a flower.

(Photo: courtesy of Linda Kay, Berrigan)

When threatened, the moths expose vivid coloured bars along the abdomen. The moths have a wingspan of about 8 cms. The pheromones of this species have been studied.