Ceratomia amyntor
Ceratomia Amyntor
Ceratomia Amyntor is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of moth ( Sphingidae ). The species colonized great parts of North America.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths have a forewing length of 47 to 57 millimeters. The moths are very variable in their pattern. There are very low contrast animals and those in which the pattern is very strongly developed. Some animals are so dark that they look almost black. The cost Alber calibration on the front wing of the animals is gray, the Subcostalbereich yellowish- brown. These areas set out clearly from the dark brown medial area from, so the species is easily distinguished from the other species of the genus Ceratomia. The proboscis reaches a length of 13 millimeters. The type also has dark lines along the wing veins and a white spot in the cell. The hind wings are light brown on the top and have a dark brown band on the outer edge.
The caterpillars occur in several colors, ranging from green to dark brown. There are also orange-brown animals, sometimes with a pink color cast you have conspicuous fleshy, provided with many white secondary bristles "horns" on the thorax. This feature owes to its English name " Four -horned Sphinx" the way of the other name " Elm Sphinx" refers to the main food crop. Along the ridge run two grooves spiked. The Analhorn is heavily textured grainy. On the sides of the tracks carry seven white diagonal stripes that start at the base of a segment and end on the following segment.
The doll is maroon and has a smooth surface. Your proboscis sheath is fused and the abdominal segments are strongly constricted. The broad, rough cremaster ends with a small double top.
Occurrence
The species colonized great parts of North America. It is distributed in the United States from New England to northern Florida and west to central New Mexico and Colorado. In 2005 a copy in the extreme southeastern Arizona has been demonstrated. Although there is no evidence from Wyoming and Montana, it is suspected that the species is widespread there in the East as well. In Canada the way to the east in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and southern Quebec is widespread. In Ontario, you can find them on the Niagara Peninsula and along the northern shores of the Great Lakes. The species is also detected in the south and west to Manitoba to Saskatchewan and to the southeast Alberta. In the south, the area of the species extends along the Gulf Coast to Texas, New Mexico and Mexico.
Ceratomia Amyntor colonized deciduous forests. To the east of its range the species often occurs in the West, it is only to be found locally in forest areas. It is in the north of the site more frequently than in the south.
Way of life
The moths fly at night to light sources. Their proboscis would be suitable, despite its short length on dietary intake, but it is not known whether the muscle is adapted. Evidence of moth nectar plants have so far been carried out only by CH Fernald (1884 ). Eliot and Soule documented but in 1902 that the moths are attracted by light, bait and flowers, which is why you despite the absence of further evidence can probably assume that it is possible for them to take nectar.
Flight times and caterpillars
In the north of its range the species is flying in a generation in the summer in June and July. In the south, fly at least two generations from April to October, for example, in Missouri. However, there are authors who have run out of even five generations in this period, which shows that the flight times of the species have not yet been sufficiently explored.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly on elm (Ulmus ). In Canada and in the States of New England has it also detected at Linden and birch (Betula ), they should also eat black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Prunus species beyond.
Development
The females lay their eggs one at a bright light green from the leaves of the caterpillar food plants. The caterpillars live as loners and need for the first stage four to five weeks. Pupation takes place in a chamber several inches deep in the ground. The pupae overwinter.