Hind wings are dark brown with a rosy-white band across the middle, and the moth s body is brown with white stripes on the head and thorax, and bands of black and white spots on the abdomen. These moths fly in daylight and evening hours, with hovering flight resembling that of humming birds as they sip nectar from flowers. This is one of the most commonly observed sphinx or hawk moth species. Adult moths emerge in the spring and mate. Caterpillars molt several times during development before they crawl down the tree trunk and pupate in the soil.
Adults emerge several days later.
There may be 4 to 5 generations per year in Texas. Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts. Adults have siphoning mouths. Caterpillars feed on leaves only of catalpa trees. Caterpillars can be collected from host plants by hand-picking.