Blackburn's Sphinx Moth

• The endangered Blackburn's sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni) was considered extinct until its rediscovery in 1984, according to the Xerces Society. Populations of the moth are limited to the Hawaiian islands, specifically in Maui, Kaho'olawe and the big island of Hawaii. The pupae can remain in an inactive state for up to a year. The caterpillars feed on plants in the nightshade family as well as trees. Blackburn's sphinx moths are threatened by collectors, parasites, insect predators and habitat loss. The grayish-brown moth, with a wingspan of 5 inches, is the largest native insect in Hawaii.
  
  

Kern Primrose Sphinx Moth

• Also thought to have been extinct, the endangered Kern primrose sphinx moth (Euproserpinus euterpe) was rediscovered in 1974 in Kern County, California, according to the Xerces Society. Another population was found in San Luis Obispo County, also in Southern California. The rare desert moth feeds on the evening primrose, and its primary enemy is the European weed fillaree. The moths feed on the plant, but eggs laid on the plant are known to starve. The gray and black moths have a wingspan of 3 inches. The caterpillars go through several stages, a green form with brown/black heads, legs and horn. Their heads turn red and dark red. In later stages, the legs turn green, then red.
  
  

Long-tongued Hawk Moth

• While not considered endangered in the U.S., the decline of long-tongued hawk moths may affect the survivability of orchids throughout the world. The threatened western prairie fringed orchid (Plantanthera praeclara), which makes its home in the American Midwest, has declined to less than 40 percent of its original population, according to PBS's "NATURE," making it one of 2,000 endangered orchid species around the globe. Many species of orchids rely on these moths, whose long tongues have evolved specifically to reach down into the flowers' tubes to feed on the pollen.
  
  

Importance of Hawk Moths and Its Caterpillars

• Most hornworms cause no harm, unless you're a leaf.Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Hawk moth caterpillars primarily do no harm, with the exception of the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm. The tomato hornworm can strip the leaves off your favorite tomato plant and destroy it. Hornworms don't grow into beautiful butterflies, so their importance can be overlooked. The same pesticides that kill the tomato hornworm also kill hornworms that turn into beneficial creatures. Hawk moths pollinate a variety of plants around the world, including yuccas, primrose, gardenias, jasmine, orchids and lilies, and many of these plants simply can't survive without their own special species of hawk moth.