Sphinx dollii
Sphinx dollii ( preparation )
Sphinx dollii is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of moth ( Sphingidae ). The species inhabits parts of the Southwest and West of the U.S..
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths have a forewing length of only 22 to 29 millimeters, making them the smallest species of the genus Sphinx. Already the size will vary sequoiae the type of all other species of the genus with the exception of the Sphinx. Most of the front wing on the top are gray with a brown tint. In the similar way it is instead bluish. The similar way is also less strongly patterned on the front wings. Diagonally to the wings extending from the base to the blade tip, a black line which is interrupted in the similar manner and less developed. On thorax proceed at Sphinx dollii two pair of longitudinal lines that merge often to a wide dark band. In the similar way just a fine pair of black lines is formed. The species is variable. In the north, for example, in Colorado, the front wings of the butterflies are clearly patterned. The Subterminallinie is well known, and the range of her until the base is almost white. In Arizona, the moths are less patterned on the front wings and the Subterminallinie is clearly regressed. Also, the white in the basal is only weakly developed. In the mountains of New Mexico and southern Arizona, the front wing of the animals are almost monochromatic blue-gray and the Subterminallinie is almost unrecognizable.
The caterpillars see which of Sphinx sequoiae similar. They have a strong green color and are provided with a series of white dots on each body segment. Thus they are perfectly camouflaged on the young shoots of the food plants. Unlike the similar way, the brown spots are missing at the back, at least in some individuals and the brown stain row below the spiracles much reduced form.
The doll has the only species of the genus a completely overgrown proboscis sheath. Her color is significantly different from the other species. It is black and has two pairs of broad, wine rotee longitudinal stripes extending above and below the spiracles along the abdomen. Through these features, the doll is unmistakable.
Occurrence
The species is distributed from the southwestern United States to the north over the Rocky Mountains to the extreme south-east of Idaho. It is also detected in the central hill country of Texas and the Texas Panhandle. There is a record from the east of San Bernardino County in California, along the border of Nevada and Arizona.
Sphinx dollii occurs locally common on the average heights of juniper and pine zone in the southwestern United States and in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Way of life
The habit of the species is poorly understood. The moths often fly at light sources.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in the north of the beginning of June, in the south from mid-July to early August, probably in a generation.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars have so far been detected only in alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana ), which has been proven on the basis of their distribution, that other, not yet documented as food plants juniper species must be eaten.
Development
As the females lay their eggs is unknown, which is considered as certain that they are stored separately. In three reared in captivity tracked the development was very slow. The animals needed for the last two stages at least two weeks. Pupation is documented only from the breeding of these three animals. The caterpillar burrows to pupate a chamber just below the surface.