Hawk Moth (Nephele comma)

This is a medium-size moth belonging to the Sphingidae family.

 Distribution

Throughout Africa south of the Sahara as well as adjacent islands.

Underside

 

 Pollinates a variety of long-tubed flowers including:


• Caricaceae

Carica papaya (Papaya, Papaw, Pawpaw). A cultivated species, pollinated by hawkmoths, including Nephele comma. Martins & Johnson (2009) in a study conducted in rural Kenya, found that natural habitats were important in sustaining hawkmoth populations because they contained the larval hostplants needed in completing the life cycle. Hence, papaya plants grown near natural habitats were more likely to be pollinated than those isolated from natural habitats.

Information from: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/lepidoptera/sphingidae/nephele_comma.htm