Nephele comma

Nephele comma
	Nephele comma
Systematics
Class :	Insects (Insecta)
Order :	Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family :	Swarmers (Sphingidae)
Subfamily :	Macroglossinae
Genre :	Nepheles
Type :	Nephele comma
Scientific name
	Nephele comma
	Hopffer , 1857

Illustration of the wings of Nephele comma

Nephele comma is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe swarm family (Sphingidae).

features

The moths have a fore wing length of 33 to 37 millimeters. They are solid yellow-green to olive-green or brown in color. Sometimes they have reddish brown sloping lines or bands on the forewings. To the outer edge of the forewing, a pale gray-green area is delimited by a sharp line that is partially straight. A white comma-shaped spot at the end of the disc cell is characteristic of the species, but this spot is missing in the forma derasa .

The caterpillars are black, green or brown, with yellow side lines, under which red dots lie at the segment boundaries. The pages are also covered with fine white dots. A pale, purple-colored topline is formed. The spiracles are spotted white. The strong anal horn is brown and slightly curved. From the last segment, a whitish spot extends forward from the base of the anal horn. The pusher is light brown.

distribution and habitat

The species can be found almost everywhere in sub- Saharan Africa . It is also found on the islands of the Indian Ocean.

Way of life

Nephele comma usually flies at dusk, but can also be seen in the morning or afternoon when the sun is still shining. The caterpillars feed on wax trees ( Carissa ) and Diplorhynchus .

supporting documents

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Elliot Pinhey : Hawk Moths of Central and Southern Africa , Longmans Southern Afrika, Cape Town 1962.
^ ^A ^b ^c 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.

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

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