Species · GBIF taxon 1862841
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineataAlso known as White-lined Sphinx Moth, Striped Morning Sphinx, Hummingbird Moth
These large, robust moths hover effortlessly before deep-throated flowers, using their exceptionally long proboscis to sip nectar while beating their wings so rapidly they produce a distinct humming sound. Their striking forewings feature a prominent white stripe stretching from base to tip, accented by vibrant pink hindwings that flash brilliantly during flight. Often active during dusk and dawn, they play a vital role as pollinators across a vast range of open habitats.
NocturnalPollinatorRapid Flyer
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Evening primrose nectar
- Honeysuckle nectar
- Four o'clock nectar
Predators
- Bats
- Insectivorous birds
- Spiders
ThreatsPesticide use, habitat destruction, and artificial light pollution
HabitatsDeserts, suburbs, gardens, meadows, and agricultural fields
Life spanUp to 1 year from egg to adult
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySphingidae
- SpeciesHyles lineata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Evening Watching: Look for them hovering around tubular flowers at dusk and dawn.
- Caterpillar Spotting: Search garden beds for the large, brightly colored horned caterpillars in midsummer.
Ecological Counterpart (c) Matthew Lindsey, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Tom Pollard, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Pollard · cc-by
Close Relative 
Family Member "Tomato Hornworm" by Hillbraith is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0
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