Sphinx libocedrus
Preparation of Sphinx Libocedrus
Sphinx Libocedrus is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of moth ( Sphingidae ). The distribution area of Sphinx Libocedrus includes parts of the central Southwest of the USA.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths have a forewing length of 29-36 mm and are thus among the smallest members of the genus. Your coloring is not variable. The forewings are pale blue-gray, with a few pale, black lines along the wing veins and the Subterminallinie. The type looks Sphinx Asellus similar to that fine, short black line, which originates from the apex is, however, interrupted at the similar nature and not continuous. On the underside of the hind wings two white napkins are also formed, which are absent in similar style. A white stripe runs along the basal part of the forewing outer margin. The upper side of the hind wings is black and also contributes two white napkins, wherein the top is hard to see.
The caterpillars are fully grown not only dependent on the area of distribution, but also within a population quite variable. Mostly, they are bright green and have seven pairs of oblique, white side stripes on the body. To back the stripes are edged with purple. In addition, there is a violet spot at the ventral end of each strip, which extends to the spiracles to the top. The area around the strip is heavily decorated with white secondary bristles that give the body a rough appearance. Apart from these features, the individuals in the bright green color variant differ with respect to the following additional characteristics: There are those in which the Analhorn and the spiracles are purple, his face is green and is pale white vertical stripes, which are finely edged with black. The Torah calf A are yellow except for the black tips of the claws. Other caterpillars have a bluish Analhorn that is black and white granulated, black -bordered stigmata. Her face is heavily dotted black and wearing a pair of eye-catching yellow vertical stripes, which are finely edged with black. The Torah calf A completely black. In addition to these two green color morphs, there is also a dark morph, in which the ground color dark chocolate brown instead of green. The sloping verges are black, the face is brown. There is also a gray morph, which has no pattern.
The pupa is reddish brown and has a slightly grainy textured face. The head bears up near the base of the proboscis sheath a pair of black growths. The long proboscis sheath is free, but is pressed on the body and is much darker than the rest of the doll. Its length is approximately 60 % of the wing. The very short, rough cremaster is black and has a serrated tip.
Occurrence
The distribution area of Sphinx Libocedrus includes parts of the central Southwest of the USA. The species is found primarily in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, but also in southwestern Oklahoma, southern Nevada and the extreme east of San Bernardino County in California demonstrated.
Sphinx Libocedrus settled in the arid areas of the Southwest rocky regions of medium altitudes between about 1000 and 1400 meters above sea level. In the Rio Grande Valley the way colonized much precipitation richer areas with rocky limestone outcrops that lie slightly above the sea level.
Way of life
The night-active moths fly only occasionally in single copies artificial light sources. Therefore, they were considered to be rare, but this is not correct. The species is detected in flower visiting on Oenothera hooleeri. In captivity, the moths emerge at dusk, with the females begin shortly after the unfolding of the wings with the attraction of males with pheromones.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in spite of their relatively small distribution area with significantly different flight times between mid-April and early October. In Arizona flies a generation during the rains in July and August, in Texas apparently fly two generations in spring and autumn. In the lower Rio Grande Valley moths were, for example, in mid-April and late September / early October observed. However, the data location of the evidence is still too small to draw accurate conclusions about flight times and generational consequences.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars are detected at Forestiera neomexicana, Forestiera shrevei, and Fraxinus angustifolia Forestiera gooddingii and Fraxinus greggii.
Development
The females lay their eggs singly on the underside of the leaves apparently the caterpillar food plants from. The caterpillars are active during the day and rest at the beginning of the midrib on the underside of leaves. Towards the end of their development, they rest on the branches, but feed freely sitting on the younger shoots at the end of the branches. Pupation takes place in a chamber a few inches deep in the ground.