Daphnis nerii

Lazarevskoye, Krasnodar Krai, circa July 5, 2014.
She was sitting under an oleander bush


Who is it?

http://molbiol.ru/forums/index.php?showtopic=180650&st=7100#

This post was edited by Djon-01.11.2016 13: 58

Finally I decided to ask a long-nagging question about Daphnis nerii. Everywhere it is written (Wikipedia, determinants, etc.) that this species is most often found on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, the food plant of caterpillars is oleander, and sometimes periwinkle. I have been living on the Black Sea coast for 38 years now, there are plenty of oleanders (although the vast majority of them, unfortunately, are located within the city limits), but I have not caught the oleander hawkmoth, but I have never even met it, despite the fact that I have always more or less monitored butterflies and even when I had breaks in collecting insects, I still reflexively paid attention to the types of butterflies, noting them for myself. This and last summer, I went and looked for hawk moth in the lamplight at night, carefully examined the oleander bushes, but I didn't find anything like them (in the sense of caterpillars, excrement, etc.). Also this summer, I climbed up and removed the ceiling of a daylight lamp in one of the sanatoriums, which is full of oleanders, but in addition to several dozen Hyles livornica, several scoops and bears, which seem to have accumulated there for more than one season, I also found nothing else. The autopsy of the lamp completely refutes my supposed carelessness and confirms my conclusion about the absence of this species in our city in general, because there are oleanders around, butterflies got into the lamp more than one season, because they were in very different degrees of freshness. But then who can you rely on at all, your own experience or professional qualifiers? )) Maybe someone has some thoughts on this? I will be very grateful for any information about finding, catching, habitats, etc., because I have no luck with this species at all. Thank you.

Back in 1988, my wife and I were in Sukhumi, in September, for 10 days. During this time, I found 56 caterpillars of oleander hawk moth, of different ages, they were found almost everywhere on the oleander bushes on the embankment and in the city itself, crawling along the paths. I think that if I had spent more time searching, it would have been possible to collect up to a hundred caterpillars without any problems. But I didn't see any butterflies, although there were also early-aged caterpillars, so I didn't take them.
He brought home pupae, pronymphs, and caterpillars with oleander branches. Bred 52 butterflies, which "fed" all friends and comers :-). There are 6 pairs left in the collection, the old photo is in the app. That's the story.

Grigoriev

Pictures:

D_nerii_1988.jpg — (2.11мб)

Back in 1988, my wife and I were in Sukhumi, in September, for 10 days. During this time, I found 56 caterpillars of oleander hawk moth, of different ages, they were found almost everywhere on the oleander bushes on the embankment and in the city itself, crawling along the paths. I think that if I had spent more time searching, it would have been possible to collect up to a hundred caterpillars without any problems. But I didn't see any butterflies, although there were also early-aged caterpillars, so I didn't take them.
He brought home pupae, pronymphs, and caterpillars with oleander branches. Bred 52 butterflies, which "fed" all friends and comers :-). There are 6 pairs left in the collection, the old photo is in the app. That's the story.

Grigoriev

Thank you, namesake )) So they do exist in Abkhazia, but for some reason they don't exist in Sochi... although there are plenty of oleanders at every turn... although since 1988 the situation with them may have changed in Abkhazia

Eugene, you just don't have any luck or you search from time to time. And correctly understand what is written: The fact that this species is most often found on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is compared to the rest of the territory of the Russian Federation, where it can fly to St. Petersburg and Kazan once every 10-100 years. I gave you a link to the 2014 Sochi games. I have often seen butterflies from the Crimea and Sochi. They don't happen every year. Most likely, in rare years, pupae can withstand the winter. But there is a constant flight of imagos that lay eggs, the same story with Acherontia atropos, but it is easier with forage plants.
http://www.lepidoptera.crimea.ua/2402_Sphi...phnis_nerii.htm
http://www.lepidoptera.crimea.ua/2402_Sphi...tia_atropos.htm

Eugene, you just don't have any luck or you search from time to time. And correctly understand what is written: The fact that this species is most often found on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is compared to the rest of the territory of the Russian Federation, where it can fly to St. Petersburg and Kazan once every 10-100 years. I gave you a link to the 2014 Sochi games. I have often seen butterflies from the Crimea and Sochi. They don't happen every year. Most likely, in rare years, pupae can withstand the winter. But there is a constant flight of imagos that lay eggs, the same story with Acherontia atropos, but it is easier with forage plants.
http://www.lepidoptera.crimea.ua/2402_Sphi...phnis_nerii.htm
http://www.lepidoptera.crimea.ua/2402_Sphi...tia_atropos.htm

You understand, I did not just give an example of examining a daylight lamp, in which there were 50-80 Hyles livornica pieces, but not one Daphnis nerii. And I will repeat once again - there are a lot of oleanders growing on the territory where this lantern hangs. I understand of course that this hawk moth is not a mass species, but at least one or 2 specimens out of hundreds should be caught in several years? Atroposa I caught, also oak, linden, poplar. But I've never even caught a glimpse of Oleander...

The oleander hawk moth is larger than the ruler moth, it could simply not fit through the ceiling, and how many bindweeds were there? This is not an indicator, moments will come, and you will be surprised how they did not come across before

The oleander hawk moth is larger than the ruler moth, it could simply not fit through the ceiling, and how many bindweeds were there? This is not an indicator, moments will come, and you will be surprised how they did not come across before

Well, yes, that's a thought... and there was no bindweed there either, which is larger and more widespread in our country. I thought that oleander is the same size as the ruler. It is possible that they simply did not fit through. And so there was only a ruler and a couple of macrogloss, but where they came from, I don't understand, because the view flies during the day. I will be very happy if the moment comes when I will be surprised by this ))

Inspect the oleander bushes and next season you will bring them out, it is easier to collect caterpillars, as far as I know, butterflies are rarely found at all and do not really fly to the light. Caterpillars nibble on the tops of oleanders, and their droppings are large on the ground, you can determine by droppings if there are geese of recent ages on this bush. I also examined oleanders in Yalta this year, but unfortunately I didn't find any caterpillars. But I know that people regularly collect in July.

I have often seen butterflies from the Crimea and Sochi. They don't happen every year.

According to long-term observations of Igor Sakhno, they occur in the Crimea every year, in some years they are numerous.

You understand, I did not just give an example of examining a daylight lamp, in which there were 50-80 Hyles livornica pieces, but not one Daphnis nerii.

Not all butterflies fly well into the light. For example, the sea-buckthorn hawkmoth breeds on suckers near my house and is a numerous species, but 2 - 3 butterflies per season arrive at the light. They usually sit on the screen for a while, and then fly away.

Thank you, namesake )) So they do exist in Abkhazia, but for some reason they don't exist in Sochi... although there are plenty of oleanders at every turn... Although the situation with them may have changed in Abkhazia since 1988

Lived in Sochi for 4 years, and several times found caterpillars of oleander hawk moth. A friend actually collected them somehow 30 pieces at a time! I grew a series of butterflies out of them. Both he and I found oleander hawk moth caterpillars in a resort town.

But I know that people regularly collect in July.

I collected caterpillars of the last instars at the end of June in Parthenite this year. Pupae were already in the first days of July.

In Israel, I collected geese every year and in good quantities, but I never flew to the light. Perhaps the peculiarity of it is such that it does not reach the light?

Yes, it seems that this kind of lamp light simply ignores. Although I also inspect oleanders systematically, I haven't found anything yet ((

The sixth day I inspect oleanders in Adler for caterpillars, so far without success (((

The sixth day I inspect oleanders in Adler for caterpillars, so far without success(((

Most often, they sit on flowers (they eat the petals), while they are small and the color is pale pink. And during the day they sit out in the funnel. By gnawing the petals are well detected.

The sixth day I inspect oleanders in Adler for caterpillars, so far without success(((

Last year, I very successfully collected caterpillars of the last age, in Montenegro. I searched for poo under Oleander bushes, the main thing is to choose bushes in parking lots or garbage dumps. But on plants growing as hedges, nothing can be said to be sterile.

The sixth day I inspect oleanders in Adler for caterpillars, so far without success(((

please write if you find something related to this, because at the moment I'm doing about the same thing (like last year, but all to no avail)

p/s. by the way, the year of invasive Paysandisia archon began in Adler, which was brought along with palm seedlings to the Redneck Olympic Games (yesterday I caught a male with my hands in Imereti on my way to work). the only inconvenience of catching them is that they fly exclusively in an urbanized area, among date palms, last year I caught them near the railway station, people of course stare when a healthy man rushes after butterflies, a couple of times I had to explain myself to the cops when I was tinkering with syringes, injecting ammonia))

please write if you find something related to this, because at the moment I'm doing about the same thing (like last year, but all to no avail)

p/s. by the way, the year of invasive Paysandisia archon began in Adler, which was brought along with palm seedlings to the Redneck Olympic Games (yesterday I caught a male with my hands in Imereti on my way to work). the only inconvenience of catching them is that they fly exclusively in an urbanized area, among date palms, last year I caught them near the railway station, people of course stare when a healthy man rushes after butterflies, a couple of times I had to explain myself to the cops when I was tinkering with syringes, injecting ammonia))

Thanks for the information, but what time of day is this palm moth most active?
If I find any oleander hawk moth caterpillars, I will definitely unsubscribe.

Thanks for the information, but what time of day is this palm moth most active?
If I find any oleander hawk moth caterpillars, I will definitely unsubscribe.

OK, thank you.
This moth flies during the day, in sunny weather, among date palms, it is quite common, it can just sit on the walls, for example, of a railway station building, or run after each other among the plantings in squares and parks. In flight, it resembles hawkmoth, the same fast fliers. But you can catch them with proper skill. If you approach them carefully, they let you get pretty close to them. I even grabbed them with my hands and knocked them off the walls with branches. It is strange that you have not met them yet, being in Adler. I've been watching them since last year, I was honestly afraid that they wouldn't take root, and I was very happy when I met them again this season a couple of days ago.

We have such a gorgeous park with palm trees in the sanatorium and the territory is large, I'll try to take a closer look.

I just saw one Paysandisia archon, but it is so reactive that even if I had a net in my hands, I would not be able to catch it ( and it flies so beautifully, large and fast...

I just saw one Paysandisia archon, but it is so reactive that even if I had a net in my hands, I would not be able to catch it ( and it flies so beautifully, large and fast...

well, you can hardly catch hawks in flight either, unless of course they hover over the flowers. and the archon imago does not feed, unfortunately)) of course, you need to track where it flew and where it will land, then carefully approach, without making any sudden movements and grab it with your hands. not the best way, but if you don't need a net, then there are no other options. if it sits high on the wall, I knocked them down by launching various objects from the bottom up along the wall, they dive down without taking off, as moths usually do, the main thing is to cover them in time))

Inspection of oleanders is still inconclusive (((
Today I saw a palm moth again, it flew calmly, not like the first time I met it. Circled, shied in circles, even flew a couple of times a meter away from me, but never sat down and flew over the fence of the sanatorium((( if there was a net-I would have caught it. I even went to get it, but just like when hunting, you go hunting around without a gun, you took a gun - everyone hid.
No luck with either the oleander hawk moth or the palm moth. Two days left and home.

The post was edited by Alexanor - 02.07.2020 22: 02

Inspection of oleanders is still inconclusive (((
Today I saw a palm moth again, it flew calmly, not like the first time I met it. Circled, shied in circles, even flew a couple of times a meter away from me, but never sat down and flew over the fence of the sanatorium((( if there was a net-I would have caught it. I even went to get it, but just like when hunting, you go hunting around without a gun, you took a gun - everyone hid.
No luck with either the oleander hawk moth or the palm moth. Two days left and home.

Well, what can I do, it's a shame of course, but don't worry too much about the Oleander Hawk moth, I haven't found it here in 41 years, or rather I found it in the year before last as an imago, already in the Fall, it seems to be already in October, but it was so depressing that I didn't even take it, just photographed it. Lying right in front of the front door to my work, in Imereti, as an image of evil irony in response to all my efforts)))
Half of the front wings had been torn off, and as it was, it was all gnawed by ants, which continued to do their dirty work. And the caterpillars were never found, not even a hint of them. Of course, sometimes I just gave up on this case, because all these unsuccessful attempts discouraged any desire to once again rummage through the oleander bushes. It's one thing in the forest, where there is no one, but in city parks to stand cancer, examining each bush under the gaze of vacationers strolling through the parks and answering their stupid, monotonous questions, generally unpleasant occupation) can certainly not be good enough I try, x z, but still I was looking. But at least I saw live that in fact he happens to us, although very rarely. I think that in the Crimea it should be more.
P.S. And by the way, judging by the profile, it follows that you are from the Chelyabinsk region, but let me ask you then-what were you going to feed these caterpillars, even if you found them?
It's just that many people also ask me to collect Alancastrium caterpillars for them, but the question of what they are going to feed them usually leads such naturalists to a dead end)))

I was long enough 19 days, the calculation was for the caterpillars of the penultimate and last ages and the hope was to finish feeding them on the spot.
And so, there are universal, artificial feeds, but expensive, they are devoured by almost all caterpillars. They are used by those who breed for sale.
Maybe these people asked you for them. For them, there is no problem with food, and oleander is not needed...

The post was edited by Alexanor-04.07.2020 20: 39

I was long enough 19 days, the calculation was for the caterpillars of the penultimate and last ages and the hope was to finish feeding them on the spot.
And so, there are universal, artificial feeds, but expensive, they are devoured by almost all caterpillars. They are used by those who breed for sale.
Maybe these people asked you for them. For them, there is no problem with food, and oleander is not needed...

universal, artificial food for caterpillars? Wow, this is the first time I've heard it... I'm really intrigued by you. and right now all the caterpillars eat the same food? for example, the caterpillars of whiteflies and nymphalids will eat the same food?

you're wrong about those people. one of them planned to feed the gus Alancastrians with ordinary kirkazon, while they only eat steip's or Iberian kirkazon. but if it were possible, then the Alancastrians would fly with the Polyxenes much further north, where there is no steip, but only the usual kirkazon, on which the Polyxenes feed. another naturalist counted on the fact that I would grow caterpillars at home, and I would give him the pupae (it was a normal idea, yes)). but he did not take into account the fact that to do this, I would have to run 8-10 km to the forest every 2-3 days to get a forage plant, since it does not grow near the house. I myself would be happy to visit my favorite Nature so often, but unfortunately this is impossible, because you need to go to work almost every day ((

I don't quite agree with you. For example, I fed some Far Eastern peacock eyes with ordinary, our, European, oak and birch, while in their homeland they exclusively eat local birch species and Mongolian oak.
So some species can be replaced with a forage plant close to their native one!

So it is true, but what does this have to do with some mythical "universal, artificial food, but expensive, almost all caterpillars eat them"?

So it is true, but what does this have to do with some mythical "universal, artificial food, but expensive, almost all caterpillars eat them"?

This is also very interesting to me) at least some link somewhere to read about it...

I don't quite agree with you. For example, I fed some Far Eastern peacock eyes with ordinary, our, European, oak and birch, while in their homeland they exclusively eat local birch species and Mongolian oak.
So some species can be replaced with a forage plant close to their native one!

Well, the Far East and the middle zone of Russia are located at a considerable distance from each other. Here, both the belt and the climate are completely different, and in general, in addition to the forage plant, there may still be a lot of other limiting factors for different species. Well, what then prevents Alankastria from settling further north, where the Polyxena flies and only the usual kirkazon grows, if the Polyxena range already begins approximately from Tuapse?

The post was edited by koty - 30.07.2020 15: 37

This is also very interesting to me) at least some link somewhere to read about it...

Do you like science fiction?

Well, the Far East and the middle zone of Russia are located at a considerable distance from each other. Here, both the belt and the climate are completely different, and in general, in addition to the forage plant, there may still be a lot of other limiting factors for different species. Well, what then prevents Alankastria from settling further north, where the Polyxena flies and only the usual kirkazon grows, if the Polyxena range already begins approximately from Tuapse?

I think here most likely the climate affects.
Oak hawk moth is also prevented from flying on the northern border of oak growth....
So it is not always important to have a forage plant...

Again I inspect the oleander bushes in Imereti, as usual, without success! But I don't lose hope!
I saw the archon twice, but I couldn't catch it (
I hope I should be lucky....
Last year, after all, I caught a dead head in the Crimea, right in the hotel on the balcony)))

The post was edited by Alexanor - 29.07.2022 00: 15

Again I inspect the oleander bushes in Imereti, as usual, without success! But I don't lose hope!
I saw the archon twice, but I couldn't catch it (
I hope I should be lucky....
Last year, after all, I caught a dead head in the Crimea, right in the hotel on the balcony)))

Archon in JULY?!!!

Archon in JULY?!!!

Palm driller Paysandisia archon, write that the peak of summer in July.

I saw him at the end of June, and my friends sent me pictures of him in mid-August. The one I couldn't catch was fresh.

Palm driller Paysandisia archon, write that the peak of summer in July.

Ugh, damn it, I only associate archon with Archon apollinus. I apologize for any misunderstandings.

Today again missed two archons, both touched hands. One landed on the trunk of a palm tree and I tried to cover it with my palm from ten centimeters away, but a sharp infection, dodged and flew away! Oh, if only there were a net! Very beautiful and large butterfly! The second one flew by, I followed him, he sat down on a yucca tree, right on the leaves, crept up already with a cap, and also no luck, just decided to cover it with a cap, he flew away (((

Paysandisia archon. Sochi, 10.08.2022, 10 o'clock. Green area near the circus. They fly very beautifully. I caught two of them with my hands.

This post was edited by Olga Titova - 10.08.2022 17: 12

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