The Australasian Privet Hawk Moth (Psilogramma casuarinae) 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 New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, the Northern Territory

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...

 and Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

.

Adults have long, narrow grey wings with a darker grey wavy pattern. The abdomen is grey, with a dark dorsal line. Males can make a hissing sound by rubbing parts of its body together.

The larvae feed on Olea europaea, Ligustrum vulgare

Ligustrum vulgare

Ligustrum vulgare , is a species of Ligustrum native to central and southern Europe, north Africa and southwestern Asia, from southern England and southwestern Sweden south to Morocco, and east to Poland and northwestern Iran.It is a semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub, growing to 3 m...

, Jasminum polyanthum

Jasminum polyanthum

Jasminum polyanthum, also known as Pink Jasmine , is an evergreen twining climber from China. It produces an abundance of reddish-pink flower buds in late winter and early spring, followed by fragrant five-petalled star-like white flowers which are about 2 cm in diameter...

, Campsis radicans, Tecoma stans

Tecoma stans

Tecoma stans is a species of flowering perennial shrub in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae, that is native to the Americas. Common names include Yellow Trumpetbush, Yellow Bells , Yellow Elder, Ginger-thomas, and Esperanza...

, Lonicera japonica, Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster is a genus of woody plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region , with a strong concentration of diversity in the genus in the mountains of southwestern China and the Himalayas...

species, Antirrhinum majus

Antirrhinum majus

Antirrhinum majus is a species of plants belonging to the genus Antirrhinum...

and Clerodendrum paniculatum. Early instars are green (although there is a brown colour morph) with a strong nearly straight horn on the tail. Later, it develops a series of diagonal white stripes on the sides. Full-grown larvae are about 80 mm long. Mature larvae leave their food plant to pupate under the surface debris of loose soil and leaves.