The Oleander Hawk Moth, is of scientific name Daphnis nerii, belongs to family Spingidae. Moth is otherwise called as Green Army worm, owing to its green color as  caterpillar. Caterpillars feed mainly on leaves of Oleander plant (Nerium oleander), a highly toxic plant to other species. 

Oleander hawk moth

How do moths look like?

              The adults have greenish head with reddish brown frontal portion along with the  grey patches between their compound eyes. Both thorax and abdomen are greenish in color  with grey outlines on thorax and dark green blotches on lateral side of penultimate segments. Fore wings are of dark green color with white patches at the base. Hind wings are dusky brown with curved lines at the margin. Ventral sides of the hind wings are with gradually spread chest-nut color with a white speck at the margin.

Life cycle in brief

            The Adults feed on nectar of various flowers, but prefer flowers like Jasmine and  petunia.  They are active after sunset, found hovering over flowers and remain sedentary during the day,   hiding at cracks and crevices or beneath the rocks or   trashes of host plants.

             Newly hatched caterpillars are of a few millimeter in length with yellowish body and grow up to 7 to 8 centimeter, with color changing from green to brown  at maturity. Like  any other Spingid moth, caterpillars are characterized by a elongated black horn at rear end of the body which becomes shorter and turns yellowish in  succeeding  instars.   Pupation occurs on ground, usually under trashes or dry leaves and pupa are 5 to 7 centimeter in length.  Pupa are  of  brownish color with  black spots and wavy lines over it.

Nerium oleander flowers