White-lined Sphinx Moth
Hyles lineata
Sphingidae
The dusk hummingbird. A powerful, fast-flying sphinx moth that hovers at flowers at twilight and after dark, extending a proboscis longer than its body to reach nectar deep inside tubular blooms. Often mistaken for a small bird in low light.
How to spot one.
2.5–3.5 inch wingspan
Brown forewings with a diagonal cream stripe and finer white veins
Pink patch on hind wings, revealed in flight
Rapid hovering flight — audible whirring
Very long proboscis extended while feeding
How it lives.
Crepuscular and nocturnal — active at dusk and after dark, though also seen on cloudy days. Caterpillars are large horned 'hornworms' that feed on a wide variety of plants, including evening primrose and portulaca.
The spec sheet.
- Type
- Moth
- Active
- May – September
- Native to NJ
- Yes
- Conservation status
- stable
- Family
- Sphingidae
What it needs.
Plants this species visits, feeds on, or depends on. Names in hydrangea link to the plant’s Field Guide entry.
Evening primrose
Nectar source
Native honeysuckles (Lonicera sempervirens)
Nectar source
Nectar source
Nectar source
Portulaca, purslane
Larval host
Penn State Extension · Xerces Society
Others in this group.
- HtMothNative · NJ
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
Hemaris thysbe
The day-flying moth that gets mistaken for a hummingbird. Fuzzy olive-and-burgundy body, transparent wings the size of a hummingbird's, and it hovers…
- AlMothNative · NJ
Luna Moth
Actias luna
The pale green giant. Wingspan the size of a coffee mug, wings shaped like something a botanist drew for a spring calendar. Adults live only about a w…
- HcMothNative · NJ
Cecropia Moth
Hyalophora cecropia
The largest native moth in North America — a wingspan up to six inches, warm chestnut-brown wings with cream crescents and a rose-red base. Adults don…