Sphingomorpha chlorea

As with the English common name, one of the Sundowner Moth’s Afrikaans names, “Biermot” (Beer moth), refers to their attraction to alcoholic drinks – they’re naturally very fond of fermented fruit. Due to their habit of piercing fruit, it is considered a pest in orchards. They occur over most of South Africa, with the exception of the fynbos -areas in the Western Cape and the arid West Coast, and is especially common in forest and savanna habitats. This is a large moth, with a wingspan of between 6 and 8cm. The larvae feed on the leaves of a very wide range of plants.