Not exactly a butterfly, but the caterpillar for a Banded Sphinx Moth. I found this in my in-law's garden as well. Central Florida has quite a lot of interesting wildlife, both large and small. I loved the patterns on it's body so had to include it in my gallery. ----- BANDED SPHINX MOTH Eumorpha fasciat Classification: Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Superclass Hexapoda (Hexapods) Class Insecta (Insects) Subclass Pterygota Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) No Taxon (Moths) Family Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths -- Hodges #s 7771 - 7894) Genus Eumorpha Species fasciata (Banded Sphinx) Size Wingspan 8.7-9.6 cm Identification Upperside is dark pinkish brown. Forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Hindwing has a pink patch on the inner margin and pink along the outer margin. Range Northern Argentina north through Central America and Mexico to southern California and southern Arizona; east to Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina. Strays north to Missouri, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Nova Scotia. Habitat Tropical, subtropical, and austral lowlands. Old fields, nearby woodlands with hostplant. Season May-July, August-November (2 broods) in southern US. Only latter brood farther north. Food Flower nectar (adult) Life Cycle Larvae feed on Evening Primrose, Oenothera species, and Water Primrose, Ludwigia species. (info from BugFinder.net) ----- Thanks for stopping by and for your azule comments on yesterday's photo, Tiny Cassius Blue.

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