Daphnis hypothous
Daphnis hypothous
Daphnis hypothous is a butterfly (moth ) the family of moth ( Sphingidae ). The range of the species covers large parts of Southeast Asia and New Guinea and northern Australia.
- 4.1 Notes and references
- 4.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan of 86-120 mm. On the fore wings is dominated by a dark green pattern that consists of curved patches adjacent to the differently colored off-white to brown streaks or spots. A strip approximately at the level of the first third of forewing is striking and also runs at the appropriate level between the first two segments of the abdomen. At the top of the front wing is a circular, white spot. The hind wings are dark green and brown and wearing a faded, slightly curved, light brown binding around on the wing center.
The thorax and the first two abdominal segments are dark green, head and collar are purple brown dark. The legs are like cream the sensor.
Crawler
The caterpillars reach a body length of 60 to 100 millimeters and have a pale green or rarely pale red staining. The thorax is darker than the abdomen. Side of the back extending from the second thoracic segment to the base of Analhorns on both sides of the body each have a longitudinal white line, which passes into orange at the beginning and end. Along the abdomen, the white line is dark green lined up and light blue down. Along the sides of the body are also oblique dark green stripes and fine yellow dots. The sides of the third thoracic segment each have a large, blue eyes spot. The slightly curved, short Analhorn is brown and gepustelt. Shortly before pupation, the body of the caterpillar colored purple with dark red spots.
Doll
The doll is also that of the oleander hawkmoth similar, but has a fine black line along the proboscis, the head and along the ventral side to the cremaster. This is shaped wide and triangular, ending in a double peak. At the level of the spiracles a dark band that is parallel to two other dark bands on the ventral side of the abdomen extends.
Similar Species
Daphnis hypothous can be confused with the Oleander moth ( Daphnis nerii ). In particular, the format nigra looks a lot like him. Secure distinguishing feature is the round white spot on the wing tip that is missing the Oleander moth.
Occurrence
The range of the species covers large parts of Southeast Asia and New Guinea and northern Australia. The subspecies D. h Crameri is in the south and the north of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in the West before. The area of the subspecies D. h pallescens includes New Guinea, Solomon Islands and northern Australia.
Daphnis hypothous flies as a migrant butterfly beyond the borders of its range and then also occurs in northern China and southern Japan. In the Middle East you will find the way then sometimes, very rarely, she flies also in the more western areas of the Palaearctic region, but to the west of its range often confused with the more common oleander moth. An individual was found late 19th century in Scotland, it being assumed that this was introduced as a doll with freight.
Way of life
The moths are extremely fast fliers and are attracted both by artificial lighting, as well as by highly scented nectar sources. Moreover, nothing is known about their lifestyle. Within its range the species continuously brings forth several generations per year.
The round and pale green eggs are very similar to those of the oleander hawkmoth. The resulting hatching caterpillars prefer to live on plants that grow near water. The caterpillars feed on woody Rötegewächsen ( Rubiaceae ). In India, China bark trees ( cinchona ), Wendlandia and Uncaria are detected as food plants. Details of crawler finds ( Nerium oleander ) on Oleander are based presumably on confusion with caterpillars of the oleander hawkmoth.
Pupation takes place on the ground in a loose cocoon between plant parts. The doll does not overwinter.