The genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 Deilephila is part of the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Sphingidae

Sphingidae

Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...

, the hawk-moths or sphinxes. It consists of a small number of species most of which have common names involving the phrase "Elephant hawk moth". They include the Elephant hawk moth, Deilephila elpenor, the Small Elephant Hawk Moth

Deilephila porcellus

Deilephila porcellus, known as the Small Elephant Hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.The wingspan is . The moth flies from May to July depending on the location....

 (D. porcellus) and the Chitral Elephant Hawk Moth

Deilephila rivularis

The Chitral Elephant Hawk Moth is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found in east and central Afghanistan, Pakistan and in northern India .The wingspan is 64-82 mm....

 (D. rivularis). The Oleander Hawk Moth is sometimes classified in this genus as D. nerii, but sometimes treated in genus Daphnis

Daphnis (genus)

Daphnis is a genus of moths in the Sphingidae family.-Species:*Daphnis dohertyi - Rothschild, 1897*Daphnis hayesi - Cadiou, 1988*Daphnis hypothous - *Daphnis layardii - Moore, 1882*Daphnis minima - Butler, 1876...

.

The adults are quite similar to those of the related and larger genus Hyles

Hyles

Hyles can refer to:*Hyles-Anderson College*Jack Hyles*Hyles sp....

. However their eyelashes are much more distinct, and the numerous spines on their abdomen

Abdomen

In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...

s are less strongly chitin

Chitin

Chitin n is a long-chain polymer of a N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose, and is found in many places throughout the natural world...

ized. They lay pale glossy green eggs. The larva

Larva

A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...

e are not typical of hawk moth caterpillars, with the horn on the terminal segment being less pronounced than usual, and absent in some species. The head and thorax

Thorax

The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...

 segments can be retracted into the first and second segments of the abdomen, which then appear enlarged and display eye-spots.

The caterpillars feed mainly on plants of the Willowherb and Bedstraw families (Onagraceae and Rubiaceae) families.