Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
green, with the thoracic segments and last abdominal
segments suffused with yellow, and the abdomen with a
white dorsal stripe extending to the caudal horn; third
thoracic segment with a pair of white, black-rimmed
eye-spots; spiracles black; caudal horn mainly
yellowish orange, short and bulbous (but long and
whip-like in early instars).
black; second and third abdominal segments distinctly
swollen, and each marked with a pair of lilac-centred,
black, eye-like patches; head and thoracic segments
retractable; caudal horn relatively short.
Pupa:
40-45 mm long; brown, speckled with darker brown.
LIFE HISTORY
Moths occur mainly in June, but sometimes also later in
the year, depositing eggs singly on the leaves of host
plants. Larvae feed during July and August; they may
also occur in the autumn. Individuals often bask in
sunshine. If disturbed they immediately retract the head
and thoracic segments and dilate the anterior abdominal
segments to display their eye-like markings. Fully
grown larvae pupate in fragile, silken cocoons formed
on or just below the surface of the ground.
LIFE HISTORY
Immigrant moths appear in southern Europe in June.
Eggs are deposited singly on either side of the leaves of
host plants, and hatch within 1-2 weeks. Larvae then
feed on flowers and young leaves and eventually
pupate, each in a flimsy cocoon spun on the ground
amongst dried leaves and other debris. A further
generation of adults appears in August, and these often
migrate further northwards into central and,
occasionally, into northern Europe. The autumn brood
of larvae eventually pupates; however, the pupae do not
survive European winters, except in a few favourable
areas where the insect is an established resident.
DAMAGE
Larvae cause considerable defoliation, particularly in
their later instars, but are usually present in only small
numbers.
Laothoe populi
(Linnaeus) (
801-802
)
syn.
Amorpha populi
(Linnaeus)
Poplar hawk moth
Widespread and generally common on poplar (
Populus
)
and various kinds of willow (
Salix
); in mainland Europe
also associated with ash (
Fraxinus excelsior
), birch
(
Betula
) and crab-apple (
Malus
). The larvae feed on the
foliage from July to September. They are often noticed
on cultivated plants, particularly at the final stages of
larval development, but are usually present in small
numbers. Individuals (
c
. 70 mm long when fully grown)
are green or bluish green, densely speckled with yellow,
with seven lateral pairs of oblique yellow stripes, the
hindmost extending into a yellowish-green, often red-
tipped, caudal horn. Adults (70-85 mm wingspan) are
mainly greyish brown, suffused with pinkish brown,
with a rusty-red basal patch on each hind wing. They
fly in May and June. A partial second generation
sometimes arises in the autumn.
DAMAGE
Larvae, particularly in their later instars, cause
considerable defoliation. However, they are rarely
sufficiently numerous to be of economic importance.
NOTE
Larvae of other migrant hawk moths from tropical or
subtropical areas also occur on occasions on ornamental
plants in southern Europe (and rarely further north).
These include death's head hawk moth (
Acherontia
atropos
) on Oleaceae and Solanaceae, silver-striped
hawk moth (
Hippotion celerio
) on
Fuchsia
, and striped
hawk moth (
Hyles livornica
) on both
Fuchsia
and
Virginia creeper (
Parthenocissus
).
Deilephila elpenor
(Linnaeus) (
799-800
)
syn.
Pergesa elpenor
(Linnaeus)
Elephant hawk moth
Generally common in the wild on bedstraw (
Galium
),
rose-bay (
Chamaenerion angustifolium
) and willow-
herbs (
Epilobium
) but also a minor pest of cultivated
plants such as busy lizzie (
Impatiens
) and
Fuchsia
, both
outdoors and in greenhouses. Palaearctic. Present
throughout Europe, except for the extreme north.
Mimas tiliae
(Linnaeus) (
803-804
)
Lime hawk moth
Larvae of this widely distributed species feed mainly on
lime (
Tilia
). In mainland Europe, alder (
Alnus
), ash
(
Fraxinus excelsior
), birch (
Betula
), elm (
Ulmus
), oak
(
Quercus
) and walnut (
Juglans
) are also attacked. The
larvae feed from June or July onwards. They often occur
on garden and amenity trees but do not cause significant
damage. Individuals (50-60 mm long when fully
grown) are green, with seven oblique yellow stripes
along each side and red spiracles; the caudal horn is
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
60-70 mm wingspan; body olive-brown,
marked with pink; fore wings olive-brown, with a
pinkish-grey subterminal line and costa; hind wings
bright pink, basally black.
Larva:
up to 85 mm long;
brown or green, the abdominal segments speckled with
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