Deilephila porcellus
Small Elephant Hawk-moth ( Deilephila porcellus )
The Small Elephant Hawk-moth ( Deilephila porcellus ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of moth ( Sphingidae ).
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 3.2 food of the caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 40 to 45 millimeters. They have olive-green forewings that have the front and especially at the outer edge irregularly demarcated pink areas. The hind wings are pale greenish and also have a pink Saumbinde. The body of the animals is also pink and olive green colored, and the two colors differ dominant occur depending on the individual. The legs and antennae are white.
The caterpillars are about 70 mm long and are similar to those of the Middle wine enthusiast very similar. They also initially a green, later brown base color and two eye-spots on the second and third segment, with the former pair is larger. The distinction to similar type is the regular black and more inward light shading, borders, the eye patch and in the formed only as a small bump horn on the abdomen end which is among the similar species much longer and pointed. The caterpillar is in the eye patch also significantly thicker than usual, the little head back, he is much slimmer.
Similar Species
- Middle Hawk-moth ( Deilephila elpenor )
Dissemination
The animals come in all of Europe, with the exception of the far north, in North Africa and in Asia, east to Iran before. They live in open, sunny places, such as on dry grass or railway embankments, river banks and roadsides.
Way of life
The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal and fly in Schwirrflug flowers on the nectar eyes. But they also suck at emergent tree sap.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in one generation from mid-May to early July, the caterpillars are found from July to August. In very hot years or in warm climates, the animals fly in a second generation.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on Labkräutern, especially of white bedstraw ( Galium album ) and skipjack bedstraw ( Galium verum). But you eat ( Epilobium sp. ) And fireweed.
Development
The females lay their eggs singly or in small groups from the buds of forage crops. The resulting hatching caterpillars hide during the day on the ground and only come at night or on heavily overcast days out to eat. They pupate in the soil under plant parts or in the soil in a loose cocoon. The moths hatch until after winter.