Meet the milkweed tussock moth and caterpillar. The pink-spotted hawkmoth (above) is another member of the sphinx or hummingbird moth family. This species is very widespread in the American tropics.

Their large size—up to 6.5 inches for the cecropia moth—and the soft silky browns, greens, and oranges of their wings are unforgettable when they appear at a lighted window at night. Equally well ...