Sphingidae Hawkmoths

 
Photos of the two lower butterflies are very small, you can't see the antennae.

Also, probably, males .

Female

Yes, with such a belly, you definitely can't confuse it with a male.

Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758)
Also a fairly common view. Unlike the related species-the oculate and linden hawk moth, it is never mass-produced, and is always found in separate, isolated specimens. Most often, it has one generation per year, but in very rare cases, in particularly warm years, it can also give a second generation (in its area, it caught a fresh male in mid-August of the memorable 2010 year). I showed Imago in this topic on page 14 in message #670.
Here I want to focus in more detail on the caterpillars of this species. They can be found from early August to late autumn. In the literature, aspen, various types of willows are indicated as fodder plants, and apple and birch are less common. In the vast majority of cases, I found caterpillars of poplar hawk moth on aspen (Populus tremula), which is thus the main food plant of the species in central Russia. And only twice did I find L. populi caterpillars on goat willow (Salix caprea) and only once on narrow-leaved willow (S. tenuifolia). Unlike related species (oculate, linden hawk moth), poplar hawk moth caterpillars are most often found in moist, shady biotopes - trails or clearings in forests, forest clearings, roadsides passing through the forest or just under the forest canopy. They are much less common in open spaces (vacant lots on the outskirts of cities, abandoned agricultural land overgrown with young aspens. fields). Unlike the related species L. amurensis, the caterpillars of the poplar hawk moth develop almost exclusively on young aspens (and not in the crowns of adult trees!). The resting position of the caterpillar of this species is quite interesting - it sits under a leaf upside down, slightly bending its head. They sit most often on the lower branches, very rarely on the top of the plant. It is clearly visible, and it is not difficult to find it in this position.
The caterpillars of the poplar hawk moth turn out to be very variable in color. It can change both the color (just green or green with a bluish tinge), and the pattern (the presence or absence of rows of red spots on the sides, different number of spots in the rows). I know of six forms of variability (this is at least), and the three most widespread are the three presented below.

Tracks
Green form
30.08.2013 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, the vicinity of the village of Krasnoarmeyskoye, the outskirts of a mixed forest, on an aspen tree


Green with rows of red spots on the sides
04.09.2013 Ivanovo region, Ivanovo district, Ivanovo, Mitrofanovo village, on aspen



Although this caterpillar bears obvious traces from the introduction of parasites (tachin larvae, most likely), nevertheless, it successfully pupated. But I still have it under special control. Let's see what comes out of it, if anything at all.
Green with rows of red spots on the sides and with a bluish tinge
30.08.2013 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, near the village of Polki, abandoned agricultural field, aspen



Pupae obtained from the caterpillars presented above. In the center, obviously, a female, on the sides-males. Next spring, I hope there will be butterflies.


Next, I would like to clarify a few points for everyone who has ever dealt with the caterpillars of the aspen hawk moth (Laothoe amurensis):
1) What is the resting position of caterpillars of this species? Does it differ in any way from the resting position of the poplar hawk moth?
2) What is the color variability of aspen hawk moth caterpillars? Does this species have caterpillar shapes with rows of red spots on the sides (like poplar hawk moth and eye hawk moth)?
3) Are there any signs that can reliably in the field? If such signs exist, please state them.

This post was edited by TEMPUS - 28.11.2013 12: 07

http://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/l_amu.htm

for this year, I will only write:
maly vinny - 5 females out of 27 arriving. 3 of them in one night (mid - June) (6 males+3 females-Dnipropetrovsk region, Pavlogradsky district, Kocherezhki village area)
poplar-1 female for 5 arrivals
oak-1 female for 2 arrivals (1 male - Dnipropetrovsk region, Pavlogradsky district, Kocherezhki village area)
euphorbia - 3 females for 24 arrivals
sosnovy-1 female for 35 arrivals (all-Dnipropetrovsk region, Pavlogradsky district, Kocherezhki village district)
bedstraw - 0 females for 17 arrivals
linden - 0 females for 4 arrivals
ocular - 0 females for 1 arrival
sea buckthorn-0 females for 1
arrival bindweed - 0 females for 13 flown (do not land on my screen)
lilac - 0 females for 3 flown

everything (unless otherwise specified) was caught in Zaporizhia, Ukraine (Khortytsia Island)

Next, I ask for the help of specialists. Help us determine whether the specimens of the lesser wine hawk moth presented below are males or females. I especially count on Vladimir (okoem).

Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, Krasnoarmeyskoye village, garden plot No. 34, on light
1) 02.06.2010

In my opinion, the 1st of the three individuals more closely resembles the female in the habit of the abdomen, namely in the habit, and not in thickness. Others: 2 males. In this photo, the mustache is quite difficult to determine, in my opinion.

  Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758)
Also a fairly common view. Unlike the related species-the oculate and linden hawk moth, it is never mass-produced, and is always found in separate, isolated specimens. Most often, it has one generation per year, but in very rare cases, in particularly warm years, it can also give a second generation (in its area, it caught a fresh male in mid-August of the memorable 2010 year). I showed Imago in this topic on page 14 in message #670.
Here I want to focus in more detail on the caterpillars of this species. They can be found from early August to late autumn. In the literature, aspen, various types of willows are indicated as fodder plants, and apple and birch are less common. In the vast majority of cases, I found caterpillars of poplar hawk moth on aspen (Populus tremula), which is thus the main food plant of the species in central Russia. And only twice did I find L. populi caterpillars on goat willow (Salix caprea) and only once on narrow-leaved willow (S. tenuifolia). Unlike related species (oculate, linden hawk moth), poplar hawk moth caterpillars are most often found in moist, shady biotopes - trails or clearings in forests, forest clearings, roadsides passing through the forest or just under the forest canopy. They are much less common in open spaces (vacant lots on the outskirts of cities, abandoned agricultural land overgrown with young aspens. fields). Unlike the related species L. amurensis, the caterpillars of the poplar hawk moth develop almost exclusively on young aspens (and not in the crowns of adult trees!). The resting position of the caterpillar of this species is quite interesting - it sits under a leaf upside down, slightly bending its head. They sit most often on the lower branches, very rarely on the top of the plant. It is clearly visible, and it is not difficult to find it in this position.
The caterpillars of the poplar hawk moth turn out to be very variable in color. It can change both the color (just green or green with a bluish tinge), and the pattern (the presence or absence of rows of red spots on the sides, different number of spots in the rows). I know of six forms of variability (this is at least), and the three most widespread are the three presented below.

Tracks
Green form
30.08.2013 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, the vicinity of the village of Krasnoarmeyskoye, the outskirts of a mixed forest, on an aspen tree


Green with rows of red spots on the sides
04.09.2013 Ivanovo region, Ivanovo district, Ivanovo, Mitrofanovo village, on aspen



Although this caterpillar bears obvious traces from the introduction of parasites (tachin larvae, most likely), nevertheless, it successfully pupated. But I still have it under special control. Let's see what comes out of it, if anything at all.
Green with rows of red spots on the sides and with a bluish tinge
30.08.2013 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, near the village of Polki, abandoned agricultural field, aspen



Pupae obtained from the caterpillars presented above. In the center, obviously, a female, on the sides-males. Next spring, I hope there will be butterflies.



3) Are there any signs that can reliably distinguish aspen hawk moth caterpillars from poplar moth moth in the field? If such signs exist, please state them.

Very interesting shape of Laothoe populi caterpillars! How many years I collected, and for many, such a bluish form of poplar did not see. A. R. Pittaway does not have one (Sphingidae Zap. Palaearctic studies, electronic article). This form somewhat resembles amurensis. It would be nice to know which one will be displayed?
The caterpillar of aspen, in contrast to poplar (only up to L5), on the dorsal side of 2-3 segments has pointed protrusions, which in the last age are almost! they disappear. There is only a slight bump in this area. Also, more often aspen husks have a bluish tint. There is a good paper article on the difference between poplar and aspen caterpillars, it is in German. If you are interested in it, I can give you its bibliographic data. I told you what I could. I am also very interested in this topic.

Very interesting shape of Laothoe populi caterpillars! How many years I collected, and for many, such a bluish form of poplar did not see. This form somewhat resembles amurensis. It would be nice to know which one will be displayed?

I came across three caterpillars with this color three times. The previous two times they turned out to be the usual Laothoe populi. Who will come out of this caterpillar - we will find out in the spring of next year.

This post was edited by TEMPUS - 28.11.2013 19: 09

There is a good paper article on the difference between poplar and aspen caterpillars, it is in German. If you are interested in it, I can give you its bibliographic data.

Discount these articles. Interesting.

I came across three caterpillars with this color three times. The previous two times they turned out to be the usual Laothoe populi. Who will come out of this caterpillar - we will find out in the spring of next year.

I really haven't seen any of them. Am I ignoring you??? Good luck.

Discount these articles. Interesting.

It's good that you're interested! I can throw off only bibliographic ones so far, but in pdf format, for example, later. Please continue to answer not so sharply. I'm much older than you, so be more polite.

It's good that you're interested! I can throw off only bibliographic ones so far, but in pdf format, for example, later. Please continue to answer not so sharply. I'm much older than you, so be more polite.

Вот такая статья: Alexander Pelzer // Die Praimaginalstadien von Laothoe amurensis-ein Vergleich mit L. populi (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) // Nota lepidopterologia / 11 (4) : 274-278; 31.1.1989.

Вот такая статья: Alexander Pelzer // Die Praimaginalstadien von Laothoe amurensis-ein Vergleich mit L. populi (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) // Nota lepidopterologia / 11 (4) : 274-278; 31.1.1989.

Thank you. If there is a PDF, send it to us. I will be grateful.

I have a slightly different picture. In my area, female hawk moth, although rare, but arrive at the light-five copies for the time period from 2006 to 2013. Moreover, in 2006 and 2012, it was possible to catch one specimen of S. ocellatus females, and in 2011 as many as three specimens! Here is one of those five copies:

20.05.2011 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, Krasnoarmeyskoye village, garden plot No. 34, on light



In addition, I regularly catch females of poplar, bedstraw, middle wine, pine, proserpine, and in the memorable 2010 and 2011 years also euphorbia hawkmoth. I have already shown in this topic the females of poplar (message URL#670),milkweed (message URL#670) and medium wine (message URL#745) hawkmoth caught in the light. To complete the picture, I post further the females of bedstraw, pine hawk moth and proserpine caught in the light.:

Hyles gallii (Rottemburg, 1775), female
08.07.2011 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, Krasnoarmeyskoye village, garden plot No. 34, on light


Sphinx pinastri Linnaeus, 1758 female
23.07.2010 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, Krasnoarmeyskoye village, garden plot No. 34, on light


Proserpinus proserpina (Pallas, 1772)female
01.06.2012 Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, Krasnoarmeyskoye village, garden plot No. 34, on light



So far, female aspen (L. amurensis) and linden hawkmoth (M. tiliae) hawkmoth remain a pipe dream for me. So far, only males of these species are caught. There is also no way to get linden hawk moth caterpillars.

What is the problem? Contact us - linden hawk moth pupae are wintering. Next season will be Gren.

On aspen-in May will also be gren. I take the females out to the forest, where I mate them with wild males. This year, in mid-May, 13 males arrived for 3 females. They still came for a long time, even when all three females were already occupied.

Yes, especially for those suffering on the tracks of aspen hawkmoth. They all have poplar - green and blue shapes + variations with red spots (the effect is caused by exopigments when eating leaves affected by rust fungi). In general, aspen caterpillars are smoother to the touch.

Pictures:

Laothoe_amurensis_04.jpg — (294.9к)


Laothoe_amurensis_02.jpg — (329.7к)

Yes, on the thoracic segments on the dorsal side immediately behind the head of aspen caterpillars, rows of warts are more pronounced, and the first and last pairs of diagonal stripes are also more clearly distinguished.

 
I take the females out to the forest, where I mate them with wild males. This year, in mid-May, 13 males arrived for 3 females. They still came for a long time, even when all three females were already occupied.

Can I talk about this moment in more detail? I have heard many times that males are attracted to peacock eyes and caught on virgin females, but this is the first time I have heard that they also do this with hawkmoth. Males of what other species of hawkmoth can fly on uncovered females, except aspen?

Males of what other species of hawkmoth can fly on uncovered females, except aspen?

Poplar came to me.
In general, in my opinion, this is typical of many types of butterflies. Not just hawkmoth and peacock eyes.

Can I talk about this moment in more detail? I have heard many times that males are attracted to peacock eyes and caught on virgin females, but this is the first time I have heard that they also do this with hawkmoth. Males of what other species of hawkmoth can fly on uncovered females, except aspen?

This can be done with any species that fly to pheromones. It works great with any local hawkmoth. However, it should be borne in mind that females can pheromone at a strictly defined time of day. For example, females of bedstraw hawkmoth pheromone from 6 to 8 in the morning approximately, and females of wine hawkmoth, like euphorbia, in the dead of night - from one to three in the morning somewhere. And the males, respectively, also arrive only at this time. In some species, females also begin to pheromone only after a certain time after leaving the pupae, and in others already in the first day. Finally, some species, depending on the conditions of keeping caterpillars, may have females that will immediately pheromone, or there may be migrating butterflies that usually begin to reproduce 2-3 weeks after leaving the pupa (for example, in the loach moth, this happens).
In order to mate with a wild male, the female must sit in a closed mesh cage, and when she stops flying and starts pheromonizing, the cage must be opened very carefully and wait for the male. If there are a lot of males in the vicinity, it usually arrives within 15 minutes. If not enough, then you have to wait a long time...

The butterfly was found in p.Bekovo, Penza region, October 5, 2013. (The photo is not mine). Interestingly, this year butterflies and gus were also caught in the Ryazan region.

This, it seems, has not yet been posted.
A couple of years ago, I got four illustrations for an old German book.
The cover, however, got only in the form of a color copy.
Scan of the cover image scan:

And, actually, the illustration:

Sincerely yours!

This post was edited by molek - 01.12.2013 11: 45

This can be done with any species that fly to pheromones. It works great with any local hawkmoth. However, it should be borne in mind that females can pheromone at a strictly defined time of day. For example, females of bedstraw hawkmoth pheromone from 6 to 8 in the morning approximately, and females of wine hawkmoth, like euphorbia, in the dead of night - from one to three in the morning somewhere. And the males, respectively, also arrive only at this time. In some species, females also begin to pheromone only after a certain time after leaving the pupae, and in others already in the first day.

Very interesting. Next season I will definitely conduct experiments to attract males at my dacha. I currently have pupae of female bedstraw, medium wine, poplar and possibly oculate hawk moth. With bedstraw and medium wine hawkmoth, everything is clear. Could you specify the time when female poplar and oculate hawk moth pheromones are given?

Very interesting. Next season I will definitely conduct experiments to attract males at my dacha. I currently have pupae of female bedstraw, medium wine, poplar and possibly oculate hawk moth. With bedstraw and medium wine hawkmoth, everything is clear. Could you specify the time when female poplar and oculate hawk moth pheromones are given?

Ocular and poplar pheromones begin to pheromone on the first night after emerging from the pupa, immediately after sunset. I've done this many times before - it's very easy to deal with them, usually males arrive from midnight to 1-2 o'clock in the morning. Moreover, this species usually arrives without problems even in the city. It is only important to synchronize the output of butterflies with natural ones. I tried it with topolev only once, but also successfully.

Ocular and poplar pheromones begin to pheromone on the first night after emerging from the pupa, immediately after sunset.

With podmarennikovym and sredny vynoho thought everything is clear, but, it turns out, not quite so. Can females of these species pheromone already on the first day, or does it happen after some time (if so, after what time)?

This post was edited by TEMPUS-01.12.2013 21: 26

With podmarennikovym and sredny vynoho thought everything is clear, but, it turns out, not quite so. Can females of these species pheromone already on the first day, or does it happen after some time (if so, after what time)?

Wine usually more or less immediately - the very next night after leaving the pupa. And with podmarennikov it happens in different ways. Females of the second generation usually begin to pheromone for 3-4 days. At the same time, they are still very active. It is suspected that females of the first generation do this faster, but there is less data on them. But this is all easily checked - the pheromonous female exposes the ovipositor and sits in a very characteristic pose, raising the tip of the abdomen.

Ambulyx tobii (Inoue, 1976)[size=5]

Male, Primorsky Krai, Khasansky district, Gusevsky mine, June 16, 2011, V. G. Bezborodov leg.


Male, Primorsky Krai, Khasansky district, Gusevsky mine, June 14, 2013, V. G. Bezborodov leg.


Same thing, under the wings.


Samka, Primorsky Krai, Khasansky district, Gusevsky mine, June 19, 2012, V. G. Bezborodov leg.


Male genitalia.


For more information, see the article:
Koshkin E. S., Bezborodov V. G. Ambulyx tobii (Inoue, 1976) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae – - a new species and genus of hawk moth for the fauna of Russia from the southern part of Primorsky Krai / / Eurasian Entomological Journal, vol. 12 (4), 2013, pp. 415-419.

If someone is interested in the article, write to the PM - I will send it.

let me, dear forumchane contribute to the photo gallery-Rhetera brandti

Pictures:

1.jpg — (288.97к)

And a little more Iranians: A. davidi and Acherontia styx

And a little more Iranians: A. davidi and Acherontia styx

Pictures:

11.jpg — (286.44к)


12.jpg — (296.13 k)

a little more Iranians: - H. celerio and Rh. komarovi

Pictures:

2.jpg — (289.62к)


22.jpg — (294.39к)

Well, a couple of Tajiks: - S. kuldjaensis and H. centralasie (Khozratisho ridge)

Pictures:

______2012_240.jpg — (295.06к)


A.jpg — (298.1 k)

Our page seems to be frozen. Many people have excellent digital cameras!!! I have a good reason: my soap dish is broken.

Caterpillar Proserpinus proserpina Pall. It is interesting because it is the 2nd find in the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve (for the history of observations); leg. G. Yu. Petrov, early July 1987. The first find: leg. A.V. Vanyushkin, 1986. Image obtained from a scanned slide; photo by I. N. Osipov.

I looked at photos of butterflies on the Macro Club Gallery website and was quite puzzled by this series of pictures of a clearly pine hawk moth...

http://macroclub.ru/gallery/showphoto.php/.../125566/cat/507

.. I don't understand anything, I always thought that the butterfly of this species does not feed at all and lives off the fat reserves accumulated at the caterpillar stage!? Well, okay, he drinks water there - and here he feeds on some kind of firecracker, it seems... I've seen a lot of hawkmoth in nature, including this species... I couldn't even imagine this.

You are confusing something, the hawk moth has only representatives of the subfamily Smerinthinae (oak, poplar. linden, ocular) do not feed, the rest feed

Pine feeds, and during the flowering period of the linden tree can be collected by dozens from its flowers.

Every year I watch sosnovy at the dacha on a white night over a blooming caprifolia. All members of the subfamily Sphinginae feed, including this one.

Langia zenzeroides

Pictures:

Langia_Z.jpg — (681.15к)

Bedstraw hawk moth (Hyles gallii) in the front garden on the flower of Soapberry officinalis (Saponaria officinalis L.). Bashkiria, Zilair district, Zilair village (on the territory of the Zilair plateau, Southern Urals); July 24, 2013, 23 h. 07 min., t air = 25 deg. S, it's a little cloudy. Terrain height: 515 meters above sea level.



This post was edited by Dompi - 05/22/2014 13: 08

The first hawk moth of the year. Bumblebee honeysuckle (Hemaris fuciformis) on Lilac flowers (Syringa sp.). Garden array in floodplain meadows with forest islands in the interfluve of the Belaya River and the Ashkadar River in the Southern Urals in the vicinity of Sterlitamak, Bashkiria. May 21, 2014, 7: 56 p.m. t air pressure = + 25 deg. c. The sky is clear. Please correct me if I'm wrong about the definition of hawk moth.

This post was edited by Dompi - 22.05.2014 13: 09

Pictures:

1.jpg — (286.24 k)

"I look at you like a mirror, Until I feel dizzy..." Mimas tiliae

Pictures:

IMG_3196.JPG — (29.16к)

The first hawk moth of the year. Bumblebee honeysuckle (Hemaris fuciformis) on Lilac flowers (Syringa sp.). Garden array in floodplain meadows with forest islands in the interfluve of the Belaya River and the Ashkadar River in the Southern Urals in the vicinity of Sterlitamak, Bashkiria. May 21, 2014, 7: 56 p.m. t air pressure = + 25 deg. c. The sky is clear. Please correct me if I'm wrong about the definition of hawk moth.

The picture is not so good, but from what you can see, H. tityus