Hemaris thysbe
| Hemaris thysbe | ||||||||||||
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Hemaris thysbe |
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| ( Fabricius , 1775) |
Hemaris thysbe is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of moth (Sphingidae). The species, one of the largest of its kind, is widespread in North America.
features
The moths reach forewing lengths of 23 to 28 millimeters and a wingspan of 38 to 50 millimeters, making them one of the larger species of the genus. Their color and pattern vary significantly depending on the season, geographically and individually. On the basis of the uniform genital morphology, however, all color morphs can be assigned to the same species. The back of the thorax varies from green to yellow to brown, the ventral side is pale yellowish-white.
The abdomen is mainly red-brown. It is either monochrome or the red-brown only includes individual segments, in which case the remaining abdominal areas are then colored the same as the thorax. The scaled area on the outer edge of the forewings can be very wide and serrated inwards, or it can be made significantly narrower and running straight. The species can be easily distinguished from the other North American species of the genus by means of a row of scales that divides the discoidal cell of the forewings like an additional wing vein. However, this feature is not easily recognizable in newly hatched animals, as they first have to lose the scales in the hyaline wing areas in flight. Hemaris gracilis is very similar to the species, but can be distinguished from it in addition to the feature described above by a brown instead of white colored area directly on the wing articulations on the thorax. In addition, the scaled edge on the outside edge of the forewing always runs in an even curve without a perforation inwards.
The caterpillars have a rather compact body and the collar on the thorax that is typical for the genus . The anal horn is short, strong and curved backwards. The animals have a yellow, subdorsal longitudinal line that runs over almost the entire length of their bodies. The green body is provided with fine yellow secondary bristles. The spiracles are either strongly marked dark and surrounded by light yellow circles or marked only very weakly dark. The belly legs vary from pale yellow to bright orange in color. However, the hook wreaths are always black.
The doll has the shape typical of the species. It is elongated, very narrow and has a somewhat smooth surface. The head is smooth and, unlike Hemaris gracilis, has no nodules. The wing sheaths are almost black, otherwise the pupa is maroon. The black Kremaster is triangular, has a row of side thorns and ends in a double point.
Occurrence
The species is widespread in North America. It penetrates from the southern United States to the Great Plains and north over large parts of Canada to Alaska. In the north one finds the kind of Newfoundland over the states bordering on the Atlantic Ocean, the south of Quebec and over almost all of Ontario. Based on isolated finds, it can be assumed that the species occurs throughout the Canadian Prairie Provinces and British Columbia. The northernmost evidence comes from Norman Wells from the Northwest Territory and Rampart House from the Yukon Territory. In Alaska , the species has been proven to the north of Fairbanks .
Because of the widespread distribution, it is difficult to clearly identify the species. However, it is common in the United States and eastern Canada on the edges of mixed forests and the adjacent meadows and clearings.
Way of life
The adults are diurnal and can often be seen visiting flowers when the sun is shining. They fly to a large number of different nectar plants, including thistle ( Cirsium ) and common lilac ( Syringa vulgaris ).
Flight and caterpillar times
The species flies in Canada and the adjacent states of the United States in one generation in summer, June and July. Further south it is unclear how many generations are trained. At least two, if not three generations fly between April and September. In Louisiana, the species occurs in six generations from March to September, with one generation taking around 30 days to fully develop.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly on snowball ( Viburnum ) (family Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae)), blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) and cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpum ) (family of heather plants (Ericaceae)). However, there is also evidence of honeysuckle cherries ( Lonicera ) and snowberries ( Symphoricarpos ), although this could also be confused with caterpillars of Hemaris diffinis . Evidence of hawthorns ( Crataegus ) and prunus mentioned in the older literature is also doubtful.
development
The females lay their pale green eggs individually on the underside of the host plants. The caterpillars live solitary and sit on the midrib on the underside of the leaf. You are not very active. Pupation takes place on the ground under dead plant parts in a rather strong, but thin-walled cocoon , which is made from silk and plant parts and the like.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l James P. Tuttle: The Hawkmoths of North America, A Natural History Study of the Sphingidae of the United States and Canada. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, DC 2007, ISBN 978-0-9796633-0-7 .
- ↑ a b c d e Sphingidae of the Americas. (No longer available online.) Bill Oehlke, archived from the original on June 18, 2013 ; Retrieved March 2, 2011 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
literature
- James P. Tuttle: The Hawkmoths of North America, A Natural History Study of the Sphingidae of the United States and Canada. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, DC 2007, ISBN 978-0-9796633-0-7 .
