Sphinx constricta 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 Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.

It is similar to Sphinx ligustri, especially the pattern, but the pink colour is less intense. Furthermore, the antemedian and median pale bands on the hindwing upperside are connected at the costal and inner margins, which can also be observed in Sphinx ligustri, but only on rare occasions.

The larvae feed on Enkianthus perulatus, Helwingia japonica, Ilex crenata, Ilex macropoda, Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...

, Spiraea salicifolia, Spiraea thunbergii

Spiraea thunbergii

Spiraea thunbergii, occasionally called Thunberg's meadowsweet, is a plant in the rose family, Rosaceae.-Description:Spiraea thunbergii is a small, long-lived shrub with thin, flexible stems. It is native to Japan and China...

, Viburnum dilatatum and Weigela hortensis.