This sphingid moth is infected with the fungus Akanthomyces pistillariae formis. There is a photo of this in Microbial Contol of Pests and Plant Diseases 1970-1980, edited by H. D. Burges and published in 1981. I have collected several of these infected specimens over my career and have seen several others. All that I have seen have been adult sphingid moths, the identity of which I never tried to determine as they, at this stage, are completely hidden by the fungal structures. The spines are actually fungal structures called synnemata which are bundles of hyphae growing out of the body of the insect that produce fruiting structures and spores or conidia along their surface. These conidia in turn can infect other insects through contact directly or by air dissemination. The fungus probably produces growth of threadlike hyphae from the moth's feet that help keep it adhering to the tree. This would help insure that the conidia can be better disseminated by contact or wind than they would if the moth fell to the ground. The specimen I collected in the early 70's has maintained itself in this same condition stored dry in a jar for many years. It has faded from a fairly nice sulphur-yellow to a duller yellow, but otherwise is the same. ~ James Harper, North Carolina State University