Macroglossum trochilus

Macroglossum trochilus
	Macroglossum trochilus sucking nectar
Systematics
Class :	Insects (Insecta)
Order :	Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family :	Swarmers (Sphingidae)
Subfamily :	Macroglossinae
Genre :	Macroglossum
Type :	Macroglossum trochilus
Scientific name
	Macroglossum trochilus
	( Huebner , 1823)

Macroglossum trochilus is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of moth (Sphingidae).

features

The moths have a fore wing length of 14 to 18 millimeters. The head and thorax are greenish yellow. The forewings are brown and have pink or greenish bands. The abdomen is orange and has dark bands and a dark tuft of hair at the end of the abdomen. The hind wings are yellow-orange with a broad brown outer edge. There are also pale colored individuals in which the pattern is less developed (forma trochiloides ).

The caterpillars are greenish in color. Their round head is comparatively very small. On the head and body, red stripes run in the middle of the back, on the sides of the back and on the stomach side. On the ninth and tenth body segments, there are red oblique lines on the sides. The anal horn is very short, stubby and blackish.

distribution and habitat

The species is widespread in large parts of Africa and inhabits various open habitats.

Way of life

Macroglossum trochilus , like the closely related pigeon tail ( Macroglossum stellatarum ), is diurnal and can be observed when visiting different flowers. The caterpillars feed on red dye ( Rubia ), bed weeds ( Galium ) and coprosma .

supporting documents

Individual evidence

^ ^A ^b ^c ^d ^e Elliot Pinhey : Hawk Moths of Central and Southern Africa . Longmans Southern Africa, Cape Town 1962.
↑ ^a ^b Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths, Alan Weaving: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa . New Holland Publishers, 2004, ISBN 978-1770070615 .

literature

Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths, Alan Weaving: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa . New Holland Publishers, 2004, ISBN 978-1770070615 .
Elliot Pinhey : Hawk Moths of Central and Southern Africa , Longmans Southern Afrika, Cape Town 1962.

Web links

Commons : Macroglossum trochilus - Collection of images, videos and audio files

[Pinhey-1] A ^b ^c ^d ^e Elliot Pinhey : Hawk Moths of Central and Southern Africa . Longmans Southern Africa, Cape Town 1962.

[South_Africa-2] Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths, Alan Weaving: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa . New Holland Publishers, 2004, ISBN 978-1770070615 .