Hippotion Rosetta - Swinhoe's Striated Hawkmoth Caterpillar Behaves Like A Snake - 03/28/2025

A Swinhoe's striated hawkmoth caterpillar (Hippotion rosetta) is displaying a snake-like defense posture in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on March 28, 2025. The caterpillar, which may appear green or grayish-brown, is having a prominent horn on its tail and variable body markings depending on its form. As voracious eaters, these caterpillars are causing significant damage to host plants, resulting in mild to severe defoliation and potential crop failure when present in large numbers. In contrast, the adult moths are playing a beneficial role as harmless pollinators. It is found in southern Pakistan, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, southern China, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Archipelago, the Philippines, the Andaman Islands, eastern Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, and the Torres Strait of New Guinea.