Hyles livornica
| Hyles livornica | |
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| Adult of Hyles livornica | |
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| Hyles livornica in flight | |
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H. livornica
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| Hyles livornica |
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Hyles livornica, the striped hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.
Contents
Taxonomy and systematics
Eugen Johann Christoph Esper described the striped hawk-moth in 1780 using a specimen found in Italy at Livorno (hence the Latin name "livornica"). In 1819 Jacob Hübner allocated this species in his newly erected genus Hyles.
Until the 20th century Hyles livornica has been considered conspecific with the American Hyles lineata and is therefore under that name (or as Celerio lineata ssp. livornica) found in the older literature. Similar was the case with the Hyles livornicoides, which is prevalent in Australia. Hyles renneri from Nepal is sometimes treated as a valid species.
On the basis of DNA testing it is well established that H. livornica in its entire Afro-Palaearctic distribution forms a genetic and taxonomic unit. This results in the following relationships among the Palaearctic widespread species of the genus Hyles:
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Synonyms
- Sphinx livornica Esper, 1780
- Phinx koechlini Fuessly, 1781
- Celerio lineata saharae Gehlen, 1932
- Celerio lineata tatsienluica Oberthür, 1916
- Hyles renneri Eitschberger, Danner & Surholt, 1998
- Celerio livornica perlimbata Abbayes, 1932
- Celerio lineata obscurata Niepelt, 1922
Description
Hyles livornica has a wingspan reaching 60–80 mm. Males are slightly smaller than females. The fore wings and the body are mainly olive brown or beige, with white stripes. The hind wings are pink, with black and white edges. The head and the thorax are olive-brown, with white stripes. The olive-brown abdomen has black-and-white segment, the first two segments have large black and white side spots. The antennae are dark olive brown and have a white tip.
These moths fly from February to October depending on the location. In Europe they are visible from April to June and from August to September in two generations and sometimes they overwinter. This species is a migrant from Africa to Europe.
The caterpillars are green, with black markings and reach a length from 65 to 80 millimeters. They feed on various plants, mainly on Galium, Gossypium, Rumex, Vitis, Euphorbia, Linaria, Epilobium, Antirrhinum, Scabiosa, Linum, Fuchsia and Asphodelus.[2]
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Hyles livornica MHNT male Dos.jpg
Male - MHNT
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Hyles livornica MHNT male Ventre.jpg
Male - MHNT
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Hyles livornica MHNT femelle dos.jpg
Female - MHNT
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Hyles livornica MHNT femelle ventre.jpg
Female - MHNT
Distribution
This species is found in Africa, Southern Europe and Central and East Asia and Poland.
Gallery
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Hyles livornica.JPG
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Sphinx Livournien.JPG
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Moth feeding on lantana flower.jpeg
Hyles livornica feeding on Lantana flowers
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Hyles livornica.egg.jpg
Eggs
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Hyles.livornica.caterpillar.jpg
Caterpillar
References
External links
- Hyles livornica, European Butterflies and Moths
- Hyles livornica, UKmoths
- Hyles livornica, Sphingidae of the Western Palearctic
- Hyles livornica, Vlindernet
- Hyles livornica, Lepidoptera of Belgium
