macrosila carolina

1 definition found

macrosila carolina - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hawk moth \Hawk" moth`\ (m[o^]th`; 115). (Zool.)
     Any moth of the family Sphingid[ae], of which there are
     numerous genera and species. They are large, handsome moths
     with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and
     hovering over flowers to feed. They fly mostly at twilight
     and hover about flowers like a humming bird, sucking the
     honey by means of a long, slender proboscis. The larv[ae] 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.
  
     Syn: hawk moth, sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth.
          [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5] Tobacco Hawk Moth
          (Macrosila Carolina), and its Larva, the Tobacco Worm.
          [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The larv[ae] of several species of hawk moths feed on
           grapevines. The elm-tree hawk moth is Ceratomia Amyntor
           .
           [1913 Webster]