feeds on the kumara vines at dusk
- Size
- Length: 8–12 cm
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years
- Diet
- Larvae feed on convolvulus (bindweed) and kumara leaves. Adults feed on nectar from deep-throated flowers using very long proboscis.
- Habitat
- Warm, open areas where kumara or convolvulus (bindweed) grows. Found throughout North Island and top of South Island.
- Range
- Throughout North Island and northern South Island in warm, open areas where host plants grow. Most common in Northland, Auckland and coastal regions.
- Endemism
- Migratory Native
- Main Threats
- None significant. This migrant species is widespread. Populations fluctuate naturally and are supplemented by trans-Tasman migrants.
- Population
- One of our largest and most impressive moths. Strong migrants, often flying across Tasman from Australia to bolster local population.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- migratory hawk moth, nocturnal pollinator leave undisturbed
- Conservation Note
- Migratory moth; seasonal visitor to New Zealand, not subject to conservation assessment.
- Te Ao Māori
- The Convolvulus Hawk Moth has no recorded Māori name. It represents the principle of strength and migration. It serves as a symbol of the ocean-crossers within the horticultural heritage of New Zealand. In the context of the kumara harvest, they are seen as industrious companions of the gardener. They mark the peak of the year's growth. They remind us of our own connections to the wider Pacific.
Commanding the New Zealand summer evening with a wingspan that can reach a formidable 10 centimetres. A moth that crosses oceans. The convolvulus hawk moth is the heavyweight champion of the Lepidoptera world. Their anatomy is a sophisticated study in contrast. The forewings are a tapestry of mottled greys and browns. This provides near-perfect camouflage against tree bark during the day. The abdomen reveals a hidden sequence of vibrant pink and black stripes. Visible only during the high-speed exertion of flight. A moth that hides its colours.
This migratory endurance represents a state of supreme physical capability. These moths think nothing of a thousand-kilometre journey across the ocean. They reach the warmth of a New Zealand garden. They act as a vital tropical connection. They link temperate islands to the warmer biomes of the north.
The larvae, famously known as kumara hornworms, are the gentle giants of the vegetable patch. These massive green or brown caterpillars are distinguished by a characteristic horn on their posterior end. They have a voracious appetite for the foliage of the Convolvulaceae family.
After consuming vast quantities of biomass, they burrow deep into the soil to pupate. They emerge as the ocean-crossers of the insect world. This life cycle is a definitive sign of seasonal abundance. It marks the transition into the heat of late summer.
They represent the strength of the migrant. Not threatened, the convolvulus hawk moth is an iconic seasonal resident.
The summer evening is warm. The hawk moth thrums through the humid air. Mottled wings are camouflaged. Pink and black stripes flash. It has crossed the ocean. It cannot stop. It does not know it is a champion. It does not know it is a migrant.
It just wants to find a kumara leaf. The kumara harvest is coming. The hawk moth is the marker. That is its job.