The

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

''Deilephila'' is part of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Sphingidae The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, bu ...

, the hawk-moths or sphinxes. The genus was erected by

Jakob Heinrich Laspeyres Jakob Heinrich Laspeyres (; 9 April 1769, Berlin – 28 November 1809, Berlin) was a German entomologist especially interested in Lepidoptera. He was a Bürgermeister in Berlin. Laspeyres collection is in Museum für Naturkunde.Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sibe ...

species most of which have common names involving the phrase "elephant hawk moth". They include the elephant hawk moth, ''Deilephila elpenor'', the small elephant hawk moth (''D. porcellus'') and the Chitral elephant hawk moth (''D. rivularis''). The oleander hawk moth is sometimes classified in this genus as '' D. nerii'', but sometimes treated in genus ''

Daphnis In Greek mythology, Daphnis (; grc, Δάφνις, from , ''daphne'', "Bay Laurel") was a Sicilian shepherd who was said to be the inventor of pastoral poetry. Family According to tradition, he was the son of Hermes and a nymph, despite which ...

''.

The adults are quite similar to those of the related and larger genus '' Hyles''. However their eyelashes are much more distinct, and the numerous spines on their

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. ...

s are less strongly

chitin Chitin ( C8 H13 O5 N)n ( ) is a long-chain polymer of ''N''-acetylglucosamine, an amide derivative of glucose. Chitin is probably the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature (behind only cellulose); an estimated 1 billion tons of chit ...

ized. They lay pale glossy green eggs. The

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e are not typical of hawk moth caterpillars, with the horn on the terminal segment being less pronounced than usual, and absent in some species. The head and

thorax The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the cre ...

segments can be retracted into the first and second segments of the abdomen, which then appear enlarged and display eyespots. The caterpillars feed mainly on plants of the

Onagraceae The Onagraceae are a family of flowering plants known as the willowherb family or evening primrose family. They include about 650 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules ...

families. * '' Deilephila askoldensis'' (Oberthür, 1879) * ''

Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor, the elephant hawk moth or large elephant hawk moth, is a moth in the family Sphingidae. Its common name is derived from the caterpillar's resemblance to an elephant's trunk. It is most common in central Europe and is distribut ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''

Deilephila porcellus ''Deilephila porcellus'', the small elephant hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. Distribution It is found in Europe, North Africa ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * '' Deilephila rivularis'' (Boisduval, 1875) Deilephila askoldensis MHNT CUT 2010 0 499 Ussuri, Gornotajosnoje, Russia - male.jpg, ''Deilephila askoldensis'' Deilephila elpenor MHNT.jpg, ''Deilephila elpenor'' Deilephila porcellus MHNT.jpg, ''Deilephila porcellus''

References

Macroglossini Moth genera Taxa named by Jakob Heinrich Laspeyres {{Macroglossini-stub