Coequosa triangularis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Coequosa
Species:
C. triangularis
Binomial name
Coequosa triangularis
(Donovan, 1805)[1]
Synonyms
  • Sphinx triangularis Donovan, 1805
  • Sphynx castaneus Perry, 1811

Coequosa triangularis, the double-headed hawk moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Distribution

It is known from the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.

Description

The species was first described by Edward Donovan in 1805. The wingspan is about 130 mm, making it Australia's largest hawk moth. Adults are yellow and brown with broad wavy markings.[2]

Biology

The larvae feed on Banksia ericifolia, Grevillea robusta, Hakea dactyloides, Macadamia integrifolia, Persoonia levis and Stenocarpus sinuatus. The head is an orange conical structure, but on its tail are two large raised black knobs. These look like a pair of large eyes, so that an observer or predator finds it difficult to determine which end is the head. The body is green or yellow, often with yellow diagonal stripes and sometimes with purplish lateral markings. It is covered in soft short pale spines. Full-grown larvae are about 100 mm long.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coequosa triangularis.
  1. ↑ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-12-20. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  2. ↑ Herbison-Evans, Don & Crossley, Stella (15 December 2013). "Coequosa triangularis (Donovan, 1805) Double Headed Hawk Moth". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 12 December 2018.


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