''Sphinx ligustri'', the privet hawk moth, is a
moth found in most of the
Palearctic realm. The species was
first described by
Carl Linnaeus in his 1758
10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''.
Description
It has a wingspan (generally
deflexed at rest), and is found in urban areas, forests and woodlands.
The male privet hawk moth can make a hissing sound, if disturbed, by rubbing together a set of scales and spines at the end of its abdomen.
The
larvae are usually found between July and August: and bury themselves in the earth when preparing to become a
pupa. They then fly in the following June.
Diet
As its name describes, the caterpillars feed on
privets, as well as
ash tree
''Fraxinus'' (), commonly called ash, is a genus of flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45–65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous, though a number of subtropical species are evergree ...
s,
lilac
''Syringa'' is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering plant, flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and wid ...
s,
jasmine
Jasmine ( taxonomic name: ''Jasminum''; , ) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. Jasmines are widely cultiva ...
, and a number of other plants.
Gallery
Sphinx ligustri MHNT dos femelle.jpg, Female, dorsal side
Sphinx ligustri MHNT ventre femelle.jpg, Female, ventral side
Sphinx ligustri MHNT dos male.jpg, Male, dorsal side
Sphinx ligustri MHNT ventre male.jpg, Male, ventral side
File:Sphinx ligustri01.jpg, Caterpillar
File:Sphinx ligustri pupating1.jpg, Pupating
File:Sphinx ligustri pupating3.jpg, Pupa
File:Sphinx ligustri from plate 284 of naturalhistoryof899dono.jpg, Pupa, caterpillar, and adult
References
External links
*
*
"69.006 BF1976 Privet Hawk-moth ''Sphinx ligustri'' Linnaeus, 1758" ''UKMoths''. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
*
"06832 ''Sphinx ligustri'' Linnaeus, 1758 - Ligusterschwärmer" ''Lepiforum e.V.'' Retrieved December 13, 2018.
Sphinx (genus)
Moths described in 1758
Moths of Australia
Moths of Europe
Moths of Japan
Moths of Asia
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
{{Sphinginae-stub