Thesaurus: hawk moth

Related headwords

Definitions

1. Any moth of the family Sphingidae, of which there are numerous genera and species. They are large, handsome moths, which fly mostly at twilight and hover about flowers like a humming bird, sucking the honey by means of a long, slender proboscis. The larvae are large, hairless caterpillars ornamented with green and other bright colors, and often with a caudal spine. See Sphinx, also Tobacco worm, and Tomato worm.
2. n. any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed
3. Any moth of the family Sphingidæ, of which there are numerous genera and species. They are large, handsome moths, which fly mostly at twilight and hover about flowers like a humming bird, sucking the honey by means of a long, slender proboscis. The larvæ are large, hairless caterpillars ornamented with green and other bright colors, and often with a caudal spine. See Sphinx, also Tobacco worm, and Tomato worm. Tobacco Hawk Moth (Macrosila Carolina), and its Larva, the Tobacco Worm. Note: The larvæ of several species of hawk moths feed on grapevines. The elm-tree hawk moth is Ceratomia Amyntor.
4. Any moth of the family Sphingidæ, of which there are numerousgenera and species. They are large, handsome moths, which fly mostlyat twilight and hover about flowers like a humming bird, sucking thehoney by means of a long, slender proboscis. The larvæ are large,hairless caterpillars ornamented with green and other bright colors,and often with a caudal spine. See Sphinx, also Tobacco worm, andTomato worm. Tobacco Hawk Moth (Macrosila Carolina), and its Larva,the Tobacco Worm.