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Sphinx kalmiae

A nighttime view of a caterpillar glowing under a blacklight. Under the UV light, the caterpillars is white in appearance with a few dark slanted stripes along its body. The plant on which it is perched appears purple under the light. At left, part of a human hand can be seen holding the stem of the plant to steady the subject for the picture.

Sphinx kalmiae is one of the three ash-specialist moth species included in the study, shown here on privet (Ligustrum vulgare) under ultraviolet light during a field survey. Grace Horne, lead author on the study, says “Many caterpillars glow under UV light, so they are easy to spot amongst the foliage at night.” (Photo by Grace Horne)

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