Sphinx maurorum
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| ( Jordan , 1931) |
Sphinx maurorum is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of moth (Sphingidae). In southwest Europe, the species is increasingly displacing the closely related and very similar pine hawk ( Sphinx pinastri ). S. maurorum was previously considered a subspecies of S. pinastri .
features
butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan of 70 to 80 millimeters. The first generation can practically not be distinguished from the pine hawk from the outside: The fairly uniform basic color of the trunk and the wings varies between dark brown and cream, but mostly the animals are colored in different shades of gray. Between the thirds of the wing, more or less clearly recognizable, dark brown bands run, which are mostly brightly colored near the forewing edge. In extreme cases, these two bands can either be absent or so pronounced that they are wide and continuous. Between the two bands in the middle of the forewings there are three characteristic, short, dark longitudinal lines. The hind wings are colored brownish gray, the base is a little lighter colored. A broad dark band runs along the sides of the thorax . The abdomen bears a fine dark longitudinal line in the middle and each segment is colored light in front and dark in the back. The second generation is often much paler in color and can thus be differentiated from the pine hawk.
Caterpillars
The caterpillars reach a body length of 75 to 80 millimeters. After hatching, they are about six millimeters long and dull pale yellow in color. The legs, belly legs and the split at the end of the anal horn are black. The proportionally large head is mahogany brown and has two slanted black stripes. When eating at the needles, the caterpillar turns olive green; after the first molt, the body has three cream-colored-light yellow colored longitudinal lines on each side, the lowest on the sides being the widest. The head, which is still disproportionately large, is a little paler green than the body; the two slanted black stripes form an inverted “V” that can be bordered in white on the outside. The anal horn and thoracic legs are black, each belly bone has a black point.
During the next two moults, the longitudinal lines along the abdomen become broader and stronger yellow, the anal horn and legs turn wine-red. Towards the end of the fourth stage, the green body color is interspersed with white spots and the black “V” on the head can turn reddish brown. Little by little, closely spaced, somewhat deepened, dark transverse rings form on the abdomen, which are characteristic of the last stage. In this the caterpillars look very similar to those of the pine hawkmoth and, in addition to the transverse rings, also have a green body with a broad brown colored back. The yellow longitudinal lines are now interrupted and formed as a row of spots. Between these light spots there is a rectangular dark spot at the end of each segment.
A short time after the last molt, the green gives way to a brownish-gray color. The additional brown on the sides makes the brown back band indistinct. The narrow, slightly curved anal horn is then black, the head is ocher-colored with a brown area, especially in the lower area. The black "V" on the head disappears, but black cheeks are formed. The transition between head and thorax is black. This area is shown in case of threat and is supposed to imitate the toxicity of the black haired caterpillars of the pine moth ( Dendrolimus pini ) at this point ( mimicry ). The back label on the first abdomen segment shows yellow and black bands, the spiracles are orange. Shortly before pupation, the body color darkens and acquires an oily shimmering sheen.
Similar species
The males of S. maurorum can only be distinguished from the very similar pine hawk by the clearly different shape of the genitals .
Occurrence
The animals are found on the Iberian Peninsula , as far as the south and west of France and in the Atlas and Rif in North Africa. Since they prefer dry pine forests in the high altitudes of up to about 2,000 meters, they can only be found there in the mountains. On the Iberian Peninsula and in the south-west of France, the species increasingly displaced the pine hawk at the end of the 20th century, so that S. pinastri is now only found in the north and east of France. In the area of overlap, such as around Toulon, there are hybrids between the two species. The distribution area extends in the north to the Corrèze department .
Way of life
Nothing is known about the way of life of the adults , except that they prefer dry pine forests. The females lay about 100 of their eggs individually, close together on the needles of young shoots of the host plants. Individual trees or trees that grow in small, isolated groups are usually preferred. At 2.1 by 1.75 millimeters, the eggs are relatively large, thin-walled and initially have a pale yellow color, which after a few days turns reddish-brown at one end. Before hatching, the caterpillar's dark head can be seen through the then transparent egg shell. The caterpillars hatch after about 10 days. First, the caterpillar eats part of the egg shell before it goes to the needles. After the first molt, the animals sit along a single needle and initially only eat on the surface. Young needles and shoots are avoided because of the resin . Later, as the size increases, a needle is held between the legs and eaten from the tip down. The caterpillars are perfectly camouflaged at all times of their lives. The young, green animals sit on the needles, the older, brown ones on a branch of the same color. The pupa is very similar to that of the pine hawkmoth, but has a smaller proboscis sheath. The animals hibernate as a pupa, they occasionally stay for two or three years, especially after long winters or cool springs.
Specialized enemies
The caterpillar fly Drino atropivora is known as a parasitoid in Sphinx maurorum .
Flight and caterpillar times
The moths usually fly in only one generation per year from mid-July to early August. Occasionally, however, two generations are trained that fly in May and June and August. Individual individuals are very rarely found from the beginning of April or until mid-September.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on pine trees ( Pinus ), especially Aleppo pine ( Pinus halepensis ) and maritime pine ( Pinus pinaster ). They are also rarely found on cedars ( Cedrus ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic. AR Pittaway, accessed January 30, 2008 .
literature
- Ian J. Kitching, Jean-Marie Cadiou: Hawkmoths of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Revisionary Checklist (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Cornell University Press, New York 2000, ISBN 0-801-43734-2
- AR Pittaway: The Hawkmoths of the western Palaearctic. Harley Books 1993, ISBN 0-946-58921-6
Web links
- Fauna Europaea: Taxonomy (English)