Sphinx chersis
Sphinx chersis
Sphinx chersis is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of moth ( Sphingidae ). The type is one of the most studied enthusiasts.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths have a forewing length from 38 to 55 millimeters. You are in the east of its distribution by their size that is easy to distinguish more or less monochrome gray to blue-gray forewings with the weakly developed, pale white- black drawing from other species of the genus Sphinx. The outermost of the black lines reaches the wing tip. The upper side of the hind wings is black with a faded pale gray binding. In the southwest you can type with Sphinx Asellus confused which is somewhat smaller. In addition, the underside of the wings at Sphinx chersis is clearly patterned, while the pattern is reduced in similar style. The two species can not be clearly distinguished from each other based on the top sides in the similar way, the pale white band on the fore wings at the outer edge of the black lines tends to be wider than Sphinx chersis. The thorax has a single pair of Sphinx chersis fine black lines that run lengthwise along the inner edge, while Sphinx Asellus has two pairs, although the second pair can be very fine. The Gnathos the male genitalia is notched at Sphinx chersis something in the similar way it is broadly rounded. The coloration of butterfly is virtually invariable. Individuals from California tend to be somewhat smaller than in the rest area of distribution. Other similar species are perelegans Sphinx and Sphinx vashti. The former has a dark chest top with black stripes that lead back to the abdomen, the second type lacks the pied hem on the hind wings.
The caterpillars are colored very pale straw yellow in the first stage and have a dark Analhorn that clearly ends in two peaks. The fully grown caterpillars have the typical appearance of moth caterpillars. You have on the sides of seven pairs of diagonal stripes and a striking Analhorn. Their color is light- blue-green, with the back light is yellowish - green. But there are also reddish colored caterpillars. The clear white Schrägestreifen trained on the sides are back dark blue green margins to the back to purple. The Analhorn is blue-green with a red glow at the tip. The head bears a pair of yellow stripes on the sides that meet at the top. In particular, the first three segments of the bead are structured grainy. These segments are also dyed darker green or less intense blue-green.
The pupa is reddish brown and has a fairly smooth, shiny surface. Near the stigmas of the sixth and seventh abdominal segment a pair of shiny black, chitinisierter notches can be seen. These notches are known by any other species of the genus. The rather short cremaster tapers towards the tip strongly to a double peak.
Occurrence
The very common species is widespread in much of southern Canada and the United States with the exception of the southeastern states and in Mexico. In the east, the kind of Nova Scotia, southern Quebec and much of Ontario is known. East of the Great Plains, the species is more common in the north, to the south the evidence but are rare. There is no evidence of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Even with evidence from Florida is very likely to be false positives. In the West, a single copy of Thornhill is detected in Manitoba, but the kind occurs in southern Saskatchewan, and also isolated in southeast Alberta. In the western United States, the kind with the exception of Wyoming and Idaho is detected anywhere, this absence is probably due to insufficient documentation.
Sphinx chersis is more often found in wooded areas and preferred microhabitats with sufficient moisture for vegetation with ash.
Way of life
The moths emerge in the late afternoon and evening on the first active. They often fly at night to light sources and nectar flowers. They are, for example, on evening primrose (Oenothera ), Virginischem tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum ) Lonicera japonica, Exceptional soapwort ( Saponaria officinalis), Apocynum, swamp milkweed ( Asclepias incarnata ) and cultivated petunia ( Petunia x hybrida ) detected.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in the north of its distribution in one generation from late May to early July. In the south they fly in two generations from May to September.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly of ash trees (Fraxinus ), but also other kinds of Oleaceae ( Oleaceae ), such as Commons lilac (Syringa vulgaris), Chionanthus virginicus and privet ( Ligustrum ). The species is also detected in rose family ( Rosaceae ), such as in Prunus species and poplars (Populus ) from the family of the willow family ( Salicaceae ).
Development
The females lay their eggs singly on the caterpillar food plants. The diurnal caterpillars are solitary. They rest on the underside of leaves on the midrib. Pupation takes place in a chamber several inches deep in the ground.