caterpillars some six to eight inches long.

They were found on a frangipani tree in Southampton and taken on Thursday to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for identification.

Mr. Kevin Monkman, senior lab protection officer at the Department, said that they were frangipani hawk moths or great grey Sphinx moths in the caterpillar stage.

The caterpillar is very uncommon, Mr. Monkman said. These were the first that have been brought in to Agriculture and Fisheries in two or three years.

The caterpillars feed only on frangipani trees. When they are ready to turn into moths, they drop down from the trees, burrow in the ground and form a chrysalis.

In contrast to the yellow, red, and black markings of the caterpillar, the moth that emerges from the chrysalis is drab grey and white. It is a large moth with an extremely long trunk-like mouth.

When it hovers by a flower, drinking the nectar, it almost looks like a grey hummingbird, Mr. Monkman said.

The life cycle of the frangipani hawk moth is the same as any other moth, he said. The female lays her eggs on the frangipani tree, where the emerged caterpillars feed and grow; they pupate; and they finally reach adulthood as moths.

They two caterpillars are being moved to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, where they will pupate in two or three days.

PILLARS OF BEAUTY -- Mr. Kevin Monkman with two of Bermuda's biggest caterpillars.

ENVIRONMENT ENV