''Agrius godarti'' is a

moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (s ...

in the family

Sphingidae The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as hornworms. It includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, but species ar ...

which is found inland in the northern half of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, including

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

and

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

. They have a wingspan of about 80 mm. It is similar to ''

Agrius convolvuli ''Agrius convolvuli'', the convolvulus hawk-moth, is a large hawk-moth. It is common throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, partly as a migrant. In New Zealand, it is also known as the kumara moth, and in the Māori language ...

'', but there is slight sexual dimorphism (the forewing of the female is paler than that of the male), the lateral abdominal spots are buff (not pink) and the hindwing upperside pale bands are buff (not grey). The median band is single and narrow.

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first described by the entomologist

Jean Baptiste Boisduval Jean Baptiste Alphonse Déchauffour de Boisduval (24 June 1799 – 30 December 1879) was a French lepidopterist, botanist, and physician. He was one of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, and was the co-founder of the Société ento ...

in 1832. It is named in honor of

Jean-Baptiste Godart Jean-Baptiste Godart (25 November 1775 – 27 July 1825) was a French entomologist. Born at Origny, Godart became impassioned by butterflies in his youth. He was charged by Pierre André Latreille (1762-1833) with writing the article on thes ...

, a notable French entomologist known for his extensive work on butterflies and moths. ''Agrius godarti'' exhibits the typical robust and streamlined body structure characteristic of hawk moths. The wingspan ranges from 80 to 120 mm, and the moths are known for their rapid and powerful flight. The forewings are generally gray or brown with complex patterns that provide camouflage against tree bark and other natural backgrounds. The hindwings are typically more colorful, featuring shades of pink, orange, or red, which can startle predators when flashed.

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in a range of habitats across its distribution area, including

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, and parts of

. ''Agrius godarti'' favors environments such as tropical and subtropical forests, as well as cultivated areas where host plants are available.

References

Agrius (moth) Moths described in 1826 Moths of Australia Taxa named by William Sharp Macleay {{Sphinginae-stub