C)
10 inches
Sphinx
Moths size, combined with their rapid wing beats, allows them to hover and feed
in the manner of hummingbirds, for which they are sometimes mistaken.
This
type of flight requires a great deal of energy and creates a good deal of heat
in the moth's body. For these reasons, moths feed exclusively on nectar and
seek flowers which produce large amounts of this water source which also
contain high amounts of sugar. The Evening Primrose (Onagraceae) Family is a
favorite nectar source, particularly the Dune Evening Primrose, which the
White-lined Sphinx Moth is responsible for pollinating. Source:
Desert USA
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WHITE-LINED
SPHINX MOTH Photo: Scott J. Hein
