Lintneria smithi
Lintneria smithi is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of moth ( Sphingidae ). The type was provided by Tuttle (2007) with a number of other species of the genus Sphinx in the genus Lintneria Butler, 1876.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths have a forewing length of 34-43 millimeters. The type looks Lintneria istar similar. Lintneria smithi is generally smaller than the similar kind, the black and white pattern on the top of the front wing, which runs from the wing tip to the base, is separated at Lintneria smithi in two parts. Once through a pale brown line that extends from the Diskalfleck the wing tip and once by a pale brown spot, which is below the Diskalflecks in the middle between this and the wing inner edge. The pattern of the forewing is variable. The subbasale brown spot can be greatly reduced in some individuals.
From Lintneria xantus the species differs also by their small size and thus by the shorter forewings which are more rounded at the top and shorter hind wings. Even when you are the bright regions separating the black and white pattern, designed to be smaller than in the similar kind There you also lack the double white zigzag mark on the wing trailing edge. In Lintneria lugens the pattern is somewhat diffuse and the pale areas on the wings are smaller. Also the edge of wing at Lintneria smithi is more white. The underside of the forewing is paler than basal at Lintneria smithi at Lintneria xantus. The Postdiskalband is colored wider and more white. The upper side of the hind wings is black basally more than Lintneria xantus. The white curved Postdiskalband is narrower and stronger.
The head, the stomach legs and the base color of the caterpillars are pale green in the third and fourth stage. The large, black Analhorn is fleshy, with grained surface and has a white tip. On the second segment of the thorax is a fleshy appendage. The entire body is provided with small white secondary bristles, which make the surface appear grainy textured. Seven pairs are oblique white stripes that start at the beginning of each segment and continue to the back of the next segment on the sides of the body. The orange-brown stigmas are edged with white. The first stigma on the abdomen is broadly outlined in black. In the fifth stage, the caterpillars have now a cream color and are heavily equipped with dark brown, almost black dots. Between these points, seven white, oblique side stripes on the body, the same run, as in the previous stages. On the sides of the body each extending a weak longitudinal strips. The spiracles are black and thin orange and turn wide margins black. Instead of a fleshy appendage on the thorax a large hump is formed which carries two large black spots, which are outlined in white. The short Analhorn is strongly curved and has a glossy black color. There are two known color morphs. When the head is a bright lime green and wearing a pair of vertical black stripes on both sides striking white margins. The basic color of the thoracic segments is also lime green and a similar staining can be found scattered on the rest of the body. The second color morph has a black head with a pair of white vertical stripes. The thorax has a chocolate brown base color and the patterning of the body is darker than the other color morph. The brown color morph is difficult to distinguish istar of the caterpillars of Lintneria. Although the Subdorsallinie is formed only at Lintneria smithi, you can take this to be very difficult to recognize, but in some individuals. Clear differentiator are the stigmas that are not outlined in orange in similar style. This feature is unmistakable in the green color morph to recognize in brown but also difficult.
The doll is chestnut brown to deep purple. It has a smooth surface. Your pretty short proboscis sheath is free, but is close to the body. The pretty rough cremaster is black and ends in a long, sharp point. From the similar doll from Lintneria istar differs from the Lintneria smithi in particular by the applied proboscis sheath.
Occurrence
The species is known only from the Atascosa Mountains and the Patagonia Mountains in Santa Cruz County and the Huachuca Mountains in Cochise County, Arizona and Sonora in Mexico. It is likely, however, that it also occurs in other Mexican states.
The animals inhabit rocky hillsides and canyons.
Way of life
The moths fly late in the evening from 20.00 und 23.00 clock light sources. They are also found when visiting flowers, where it is detected at Macrosiphonia brachysiphon. Nothing more is known about the life of the adult animals.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly from mid-July to mid-August during the summer rains. It is certain that the type flies in one generation per year.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars are detected on Salvia parryi.
Development
The females lay their eggs singly from whitish on both sides of the leaves of the caterpillar food plants. The caterpillars live as a loner and eat open during the day on the plants sitting. Pupation takes place in a chamber in the soil.