Xanthopan morgani
Preparation of Xanthopan morganii with proboscis unrolled
Xanthopan morganii is ( Sphingidae ), a butterfly (moth ) from the family of enthusiasts.
- 3.1 Notes and references
- 3.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a forewing length of 53-65 millimeters. In particular, the females of large species have long and broad wings. The front wings and the body is yellowish- brown to greenish mottled. The abdomen has yellow spots on the sides and as well Coelonia fulvinotata the animals on the hind wings basally as yellow spots. The proboscis of the species is more than 22 centimeters in length is extremely long even for enthusiasts.
Occurrence and life
The species is widespread in the warm coastal regions of Africa and occurs most frequently in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe before. However, also occurs in the tropical and subtropical areas further to the interior of the continent. The species is also widespread in Madagascar, where the subspecies originally Xanthopan morgani praedicta was described, in which, however, turned out later that it is identical with the animals from the mainland. Charles Darwin recognized in 1862 that there had to be a butterfly, which can reach the nectar the orchid Angraecum sesquipedale, which is produced at the end of about 30 centimeters long lip spurs. At that time, however, no butterfly was known with such a long proboscis. Alfred Russel Wallace told Darwin's view, describing 1867 as the orchid together with the butterfly could develop: For the plant pollination is gradually secured more and more with species-specific pollen as a food source, comes to the animal gradually, making it more with no competitor have to share ( since apparently no other butterfly with the evolution of the extremely elongated snout kept pace ). 40 years later, after the death of Darwin, the butterfly was first described by Walter finally Rothschild and Karl Jordan and named in recognition of Darwin's prediction Xanthopan morganii praedicta (lat. = praedictus of Predicted ).
The caterpillars feed on Xanthopan morganii Uvaria and Custard ( Annona reticulata ).