Sphinx gordius
| Sphinx gordius | ||||||||||||
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Sphinx gordius , male |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Sphinx gordius | ||||||||||||
| Cramer , 1779 |
Sphinx Gordius is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of moth (Sphingidae). The species was originally a widespread and very variable species. It was later discovered that the animals in the north of the original distribution area represented their own species, Sphinx poecila , which wassplit offby Sphinx gordius .
features
The moths have a fore wing length of 33 to 42 millimeters. They look very similar to the closely related species Sphinx poecila . The first type has a pattern that is significantly more contrasting than the second, which makes determination easy in many cases. The most reliable identification feature, however, is the submarginal area of the forewings, outside the postmedial band, which in Sphinx gordius is very dark, almost black and contrasts clearly with the gray basic color of the rest of the forewing. In the similar species, this area has the same color as the rest of the wing, only rarely is it powdered black with dark scales at the anal angle . None of the other identifying features mentioned in the literature on the upper sides of the forewings always lead to a correct determination. The type is very variable. There are individuals who are strongly darkened, while their offspring have normally contrasted wings. The definite identification of these dark specimens presents the greatest difficulties. In the west of the distribution area, some specimens have a whitish base color in the medial region of the forewings, which is why these animals look similar to Sphinx luscitiosa . The hind wings are gray to yellowish gray on the upper side and have a black edge and a black median line that varies from sharply defined to diffuse.
The caterpillars of the two similar species described above are also very similar. Both types have a variable, strong green base color and seven pairs of sloping, white side stripes. In Sphinx gordius , the white stripes are narrow and have a reddish purple edge towards the back, whereas the stripes in the similar species are wide and have black or at least very dark edges. The spiracles are reddish violet in the former, rust-brown in the latter. The head of Sphinx gordius is green with a pair of dark green vertical stripes, in the similar species it is dark green with light green stripes. In addition, the caterpillars of Sphinx gordius are quite smooth and the caterpillars of Sphinx poecila below the stigma are strongly provided with secondary bristles.
The very short doll is reddish brown. Your proboscis sheath is exposed. The rather narrow Kremaster quickly tapers to a double point.
Sphinx gordius female dorsal view
Sphinx gordius female anterior view
Occurrence
It is difficult to determine the distribution of this species on the basis of older material, as it is not possible to determine which finds actually concern Sphinx poecila . In any case, the species is distributed much more southerly than its doppelganger and there seem to be three disjoint distribution areas in North America. The species is most common from southern New England west to southern Wisconsin. There is also ample evidence from the Appalachian Mountains that extend into southern Tennessee, Illinois, and much of Missouri, and there are several isolated finds from Florida. In the west, the distribution extends in the north to the north of Wisconsin, Minnesota and the south of the Canadian Prairie Provinces. There is also an isolated occurrence in Colorado and Utah.
Way of life
The moths often fly to light sources at night. Evidence of nectar flowers is difficult to assign to this or the similar species, the species has at least been found in common lilac ( Syringa vulgaris ) and common soapwort ( Saponaria officinalis ).
Flight and caterpillar times
The moths fly everywhere in one generation from late May to late July, only in Florida they fly from mid-February to mid-July.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on a variety of different plants, such as apples ( Malus ), Prunus species, blueberries ( Vaccinium ), larches ( Larix ), Myrica species, Rosa carolina , white spruce ( Picea glauca ) and alder ( Alnus ).
development
The females lay their eggs one by one on the leaves of the host plants. The caterpillars are diurnal and hide between the leaves when they are resting. Pupation takes place in a shallow chamber just below the surface of the earth.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i 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 Sphingidae of the Americas. Bill Oehlke, accessed December 29, 2011 .
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 .
