Hippotion aurora is a moth

Moth

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

 of 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,...

 family. It is known from Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

, Assumption Island

Assumption Island

Assumption Island is a small island located at in the Indian Ocean north of Madagascar and is part of the country of the Seychelles. It is located about 30 km southeast of the Aldabra Atoll and is part of the Aldabra Group. It is a single coral island which measures 11.07 km² in area and...

, the Farquhar Islands and the Glorioso Islands

Glorioso Islands

The Glorieuses or Glorioso Islands are a group of French islands and rocks totalling , at , in the northern Mozambique channel, about northwest of Madagascar. The Glorieuses have an Exclusive Economic Zone of...

.

It is similar to Hippotion celerio

Hippotion celerio

Hippotion celerio, known as the Vine Hawk-Moth or Silver-striped Hawk-Moth, is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found in Africa, Southern Europe, Central and Southern Asia and Australia. It can be found further north, because of its migratory nature.-Colouring and marks :The body and forewing...

, but the forewing pattern is less contrasting and the pink coloration of the hindwing upperside is deeper pink. The forewing upperside is similar to Hippotion celerio and Hippotion osiris

Hippotion osiris

Hippotion osiris is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is common throughout most of the Ethiopian Region, including Madagascar and the Seychelles. Occasional vagrants have been recorded from Spain. It is uncommon on the East African coast. This species is an occasional migrant.The length of the...

but the oblique and transverse lines reduced in intensity. The hindwing upperside is most similar to Hippotion aporodes

Hippotion aporodes

Hippotion aporodes is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from forests from Ivory Coast to Congo and Uganda. In West Africa it is a strong migrant, moving regularly north and south with the Intertropical Convergence Zone....

but the pink spots of median band are somewhat more sharply defined.

Subspecies

• Hippotion aurora aurora (Madagascar and the Assumption Island)
• Hippotion aurora delicata Rothschild & Jordan, 1915 (Farquhar Islands)
• Hippotion aurora gloriosana Rothschild & Jordan, 1915 (Glorioso Islands)