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indianbio indianbio
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11 years ago
We found a hawk moth caterpillar in our garden and we want to name it Eunice but we don't know if it's a girl or a boy.
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11 years ago
Since they are not sexually mature, and just in there larval stage, it will be difficult to tell the difference. Just name them a uni sexual name.

But, it becomes easier as they mature. For example, in the African species Herse convolvuli (the Convolvulus or Morning Glory Hawk Moth), the antennae are thicker and wing markings more mottled in the male than in the female. Only males have both an undivided frenular hook and a retinaculum. Also all male hawk moths have a partial comb of hairs along their antennae.

Also, I'm guessing you already read about how to care for them , but if you didn't , here are some tips :

Since you say it is a hawk moth caterpillar, it tells me you do not know the type. There are many difference species like Bee hawk moth ,Hummingbird hawk moth ,Oleander hawk moth..etc

So try feeding it the leaves, roots, flower..etc of the plant you found it on. If it eats it, then that is it's host plant. If not, try feeding in different plants around the area you found it. Discover more about hawk moths and feed them the host plants of different species.

Keep him in a small aquarium ( NOT a fishbowl) , a cage..etc Jars with holes poked in will not work, as the metal will hurt the caterpillar if it tries to escape.

Surround the bottom of the cage with some dirt, and fill it with fresh leaves,roots,flowers..etc of the host plant. To keep the leaves fresh, put them in the fridge, or keep them in a little vase of water. Take out the leftover food. Since caterpillars eat so much, they leave behind frass, which is feces.
Clean up the frass each day, to prevent mold from growing.

Keep some sticks so the moth can pupate. The reason why there is dirt is because some moths from the hawk moth family pupate underground ,on rocks..etc

Most moths from that family pupate over winter, so you might have to wait till spring.When the moth emerges, it will need a stick to hang on, so it can pump fluids into it's wings since it's wings are crumbled up when it emerges.

PS. I would suggest reading the links in the source box, since there is a lot more info.
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