This picture was taken in
Putnam County
Tennessee on July 18th. He is resting on a gourd leaf from a volunteer gourd
vine in our
flower garden. The Squash Vine Borer Moth obviously uses the appearance of a
wasp as a defense mechanism. Considered by many to be a pest species because
of agriculture issues relating to vine crops.
A member of the Sesiidae, the Squash Vine moth is a Day-flyer. They have
two sets of wings, the first being metallic green and visible in this image,
the second set is clear and hard to see when the moth is not in flight. |