SPHINGIDAE

Hawk moths (Sphingidae) are a family of glossate Lepidoptera belonging to the Ditrysia clade. They are robust-bodied and generally fast-flying; most have narrow, pointed forewings, although some have broader, scalloped wings and fly more slowly. Their wings are usually held flat and pointed backward, like arrows, when at rest.

Most hawk moths have a very long proboscis and feed on nectar while hovering in front of the flower, similar to a hummingbird, but some lack a proboscis and do not feed during their adult stage (imago). Like hummingbirds, they are good pollinators. Flowers adapted to this type of pollination are usually tubular, pale or white, and open at night. This set of characteristics is a floral syndrome called sphingophily.