Deilephila
Middle Hawk-moth ( Deilephila elpenor )
Deilephila is a genus within the family of butterfly moth ( Sphingidae ). There are four species of the Palaearctic known, two of which are also found in Europe.
Features
The labial palps of the adult bees are rough and have the side hair. The scales on the inside resembles that of Hyles. The eyelashes are clearly designed as in the genus Hyles. The antennae of the females are club-shaped thickened, the males of almost filiform. The last term is short. The abdomen bears numerous spines that are less heavily chitinized than in Hyles.
The spherical eggs are pale green shiny.
The caterpillars do not possess the typical moth form. The Analhorn is greatly reduced or completely absent and the thoracic segments and the head can be moved into the first two abdominal segments. These are each wearing a pair of eye-spots. There are oblique stripes on the sides of the body.
The dolls see which of the genera -tion and Hippo Theretra similar, but have on the top of the movable abdominal segments each have a ring of fine, tick. The suction pipe is connected to the body of the cremaster curved triangular and down. It has no spines at the end.
Way of life
The caterpillars feed mainly on herbaceous plants from the families of Madder ( Rubiaceae ) and evening primrose family ( Onagraceae ).
System
- Middle Hawk-moth ( Deilephila elpenor ) (Linnaeus, 1758) A, CH, D
- Small Elephant Hawk-moth ( Deilephila porcellus ) (Linnaeus, 1758) A, CH, D
- Deilephila askoldensis ( Oberthuer, 1879)
- Deilephila rivularis ( Boisduval, 1875)