Species Hyles euphorbiae - Spurge Hawkmoth - Hodges#7892

7892

Leafy Spurge Hawk Moth

Hyles euphorbiae (Linnaeus, 1758)

Sphinx euphorbiae Linnaeus, 1758

* phylogenetic sequence #229400

Specific epithet euphorbiae is from the host genus Euphorbia, commonly known as spurge. (1)

Length: 2-3 cm, wingspan: 5-7 cm.

Mature larvae may approach 10 cm. in length, pupa are 3.5 to 5 cm long.

Day- flying moths that often exhibit a hummingbird-like flight while visiting flowers. The body is light brown with various white and dark brown markings, while the wings have a conspicuous tan, brown, and pink or red color pattern.

The caterpillars are also conspicuously colored, with a pronounced tail or "horn" near the rear end. Young larvae are variously patterned with green, yellow, and black; older larvae have a distinctive red, black, and yellow pattern with a double row of white spots on each side and white speckles.

Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.

Several western states, including Montana, Idaho, and Oregon. Its range keeps spreading.

Larvae feed on leafy spurge.

Adult moths are present beginning in early to mid-summer. After mating, females lay small clusters of eggs on leafy spurge foliage. After hatching, larvae consume leafy spurge leaves and flowers. Mature larvae enter the soil to pupate. There are one or two generations per year, with soil-inhabiting pupae as the overwintering stage.

Introduced from Europe since the 1960s to combat leafy spurge.

Larvae of Hyles gallii are somewhat similar, but it has a single row of spots, not double.

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. pl.41.13m; p.246 (2)

Hodges, R.W. 1971. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 21. p.152; pl.14.6 (3)

Cornell U.

Moth Photographers Group

Bill Oehlke's website

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)