Don't be alarmed if you spot a caterpillar with a stinger in the garden. In most cases, it is a harmless butterfly caterpillar from the family of hawkmoths (Sphingidae).

In a nutshell

  • Butterfly larvae of the hawk moths have a thorn-like formation on the 8th abdominal segment
  • it is an anal horn that deters predators
  • Swarmers often grow very large
  • the caterpillars are harmless to humans
  • 20 species in Central Europe, 1200 species known worldwide

Evening Peacock (Smerinthus ocellata)

Source: Simon A. Eugster, Smerinthus ocellatus caterpillar on apple tree, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0
  • Occurrence: everywhere in Europe, in orchards, parks, damp forests
  • Occurrence: July to September
  • Size: 7 to 8 centimeters
  • Coloring: first green, then pink
  • Feature: blue anal horn
  • Forage plants: willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), apple tree (Malus)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: no

Bumblebee Hawk-moth (Hemaris fuciformis)

Source: Harald Süpfle, Hemaris fuciformis - Larva 02 (HS), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Occurrence: everywhere in Europe, at the edges of forests, on flower meadows
  • Occurrence: April to May, June to July
  • Size: 3.5 to 4 centimeters
  • Coloration: light green, white longitudinal line on the sides, rough surface with point warts, dark colored belly
  • Characteristic: reddish anal horn, dark at the end
  • Fodder plants: bedstraw (Galium), honeysuckle (Lonicera), rhododendron (Rhododendron)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: yes

Pine hawkmoth (Sphinx pinastri)

Source: Beentree, Sphinx pinastri 2 beentree, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Occurrence: everywhere in central and southern Europe, in coniferous forests
  • Occurrence: April to May
  • Size: 7.5 to 8 centimeters
  • Colouring: green with brown back, cream-white vertical stripes on the sides, lighter head with dark stripes, oily sheen before pupation
  • Feature: dark anal horn
  • Fodder plants: pine (Pinus), spruce (Picea)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: no

Notice: The pine hawkmoth is one of the most common hawkmoth species in Central Europe. It is also known as the fir arrow.

Bedstraw Hawk-Moth (Hyles gallii)

  • Occurrence: everywhere in Central Europe, on the edges of forests, in conservation areas, on heathland
  • Occurrence: July to September
  • Size: 7 to 8 centimeters
  • Colouring: green or brown with black spots or black with yellow spots, red legs
  • Feature: red anal horn
  • Fodder plants: bedstraw (Galium), fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) Toxicity: no
  • Endangerment: specially protected

Privet hawkmoth (Sphinx ligustri)

  • Occurrence: everywhere in Central Europe, on the edges of forests, in parks and gardens
  • Occurrence: July to September
  • Size: 9 to 10 centimeters
  • Coloration: bright green, white-pink or white-purple stripes, yellow spots
  • Characteristic: bright anal horn, shiny black at the end
  • Fodder plants: privet (Ligustrum), lilac (Syringa), ash (Fraxinus)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: no

Linden Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae)

  • Occurrence: everywhere in Central Europe, at the edges of forests, in parks and avenues
  • Occurrence: April and July
  • Size: 4 to 5.5 centimeters Coloration: pale green or pale blue, triangular head capsule
  • Feature: blue-violet anal horn
  • Fodder plants: lime (Tilia), alder (Alnus), elm (Ulmus)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: no

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi)

  • Occurrence: everywhere in Europe, in forests, gardens and parks
  • Occurrence: April to May
  • Size: 4 to 5 centimeters
  • Colouring: green with yellow horizontal stripes
  • Feature: yellow anal horn
  • Fodder plants: poplar (Populus), willow (Salix)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: no

Scabious Hawk-Moth (Hemaris tityus)

Source: jacilluch, Oruga de esfinge abejorro - HEMARIS ( mariposa picaflor ) (14570205537), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Occurrence: everywhere in Europe, at the edges of forests, in gardens
  • Occurrence: April to May, June to July
  • Size: 4 to 5 centimeters
  • Colouration: initially green, later violet throughout, light longitudinal lines on both sides of the body, violet spots in each segment
  • Characteristic: reddish anal horn, two black hairs at the end
  • Fodder plants: scabious (Scabiosa), devil's bit (Succisa pratensis), bedstraw (Galium)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: yes

Pigeontail (Macroglossum stellatarum)

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taubenschw%C3%A4nzchen#/media/File:Macroglossum.stellatarum.caterpillar.3088.Liosi.jpg.webp
  • Occurrence: everywhere in Central and Southern Europe, in gardens and parks
  • Occurrence: April to June
  • Size: 4.5 to 5 centimeters
  • Colouring: mostly green or brown, white spots on the body, a yellow and a white longitudinal line on the sides
  • Characteristic: green anal horn, black and yellow at the end
  • Fodder plants: bedstraw (Galium), spurflower (Centranthus), madder (Rubia tinctorum), woodruff (Galium odoratum)
  • Toxicity: no
  • Danger: no

Spurge Hawk-Moth (Hyles euphorbiae)

  • Occurrence: everywhere in Central Europe, open grassland
  • Occurrence: April to May, sometimes also August to September
  • Size: 7 to 9 centimeters
  • Coloration: red ground colour, white and small black spots on the sides, large yellow, green or orange spots, yellow or red longitudinal line on the sides
  • Feature: red anal horn with black tip
  • Fodder plants: Beach Spurge (Euphorbia paralias), Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)
  • Toxicity: Intestinal contents are poisonous to predators
  • Endangerment: critically endangered species, is on the Red List

Notice: The spurge hawk-moth, which develops from the colorful caterpillars with stingers, is considered to be the largest moth in Central Europe with a wingspan of 9 to 11 centimeters.

frequently asked Questions

Can hawkmoth caterpillars cause itching or allergies?

Although the caterpillars of the hawk moths look impressive with the stinger on their abdomen, they are harmless to humans. In contrast to them, caterpillars of the oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) can cause severe itching and skin irritation.

How do you protect garden plants from damage caused by caterpillars?

Without caterpillars there are no butterflies and no moths! Most caterpillars do not cause much damage. Provide good nesting opportunities for songbirds. Protect endangered plants by collecting them regularly and using glue rings.

What natural enemies do butterfly caterpillars have?

Important enemies of the caterpillars are parasitic wasps and sand wasps. Ichneumon wasps lay their eggs in the bodies of the caterpillars, which then die off. Sand wasps paralyze butterfly caterpillars with a poison and gradually eat them up.

Category:

Animals in the garden