Sphecodina abbottii

Abbott's sphinx
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Euarthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Sphingidae
Genus:Sphecodina
Species: S. abbottii
Binomial name
Sphecodina abbottii
(Swainson, 1821)[1]
Synonyms
  • Thyreus abbottii Swainson, 1821

Sphecodina abbottii, the Abbott's sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Distribution

It lives in eastern North America.

Biology

Adults fly in May–June in the north, but have several generations in the south.

Description

The underwings have a strong yellow band and in flight, the moth buzzes, appearing like a bee. At rest, they raise their abdomens and are well camouflaged on tree bark, looking like a broken branch (Wagner, 2005).

Early instars are a pale greenish-white, with at first a horn, but later a brown knob near the hind end. Final instars (75 mm in length) come in two patterns: one has brown bands such that there are ten large pale green spots on the back and an eyespot on the rear. This form may mimic grapes. Others are completely brown, with a wood-grain patterning, and with the rear eyespot. (Wagner 2005) In the final instar the knob looks a lot like a vertebrate eye, down to the white reflection spot. If it is pinched or poked, the larva squeaks and bites at the attacker (Wagner 2005). Larvae feed on grapes (Vitis) and Ampelopsis.

References

  1. ↑ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  • Wagner, DL. 2005. Caterpillars of eastern North America. Princeton Univ. Press.

And Poland


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.