Agrius convolvuli
| Agrius convolvuli | |
|---|---|
| File:Agrius convolvuli from Sri Lanka.jpg | |
| File:Agrius convolvuli side view.jpg | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Sphingidae |
| Genus: | Agrius |
| Species: | A. convolvuli
|
| Binomial name | |
| Agrius convolvuli | |
| File:Agrius convolvuli distribution map.svg | |
| Distribution (red – permanent; orange – migrant) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Agrius convolvuli, the convolvulus hawk-moth, is a large hawk-moth. It is common throughout Europe, Asia, Africa,[3] Australia[4] and New Zealand,[5] partly as a migrant. In New Zealand, it is also known as the kumara moth, and in the Māori language as hīhue.[6]
Description and habits
[edit | edit source]The wingspan is 80–105 millimetres (3.1–4.1 in). This hawkmoth's basic coloration is in grayish tones, but the abdomen has a broad gray dorsal stripe and pink and black bands edged with white on the sides. The hindwings are light gray with darker broad crosslines.[7]
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♂
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♂ △
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♀
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♀ △
Its favourite time is around sunset and during the twilight, when it is seen in gardens hovering over the flowers. This moth is very attracted to light, so it is often killed by cars on highways. Its caterpillars eat the leaves of the Convolvulus, hence its Latin name "convolvuli". Other recorded food plants include a wide range of plants in the families Araceae, Convolvulaceae, Leguminosae and Malvaceae. It can be a pest of cultivated Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato or kūmara) in New Zealand and the Pacific. The adult feeds on the wing and has a very long proboscis (longer than its body) that enables it to feed on long trumpet-like flowers such as Nicotiana sylvestris.[8]
The caterpillars can be in a number of different colours. As well as brown (pictured below) they have been seen in bright green and black.[9]
Similar species
[edit | edit source]A. convolvuli is unmistakable in the eastern area of distribution, in the western area of distribution it can be mistaken for Agrius cingulata. This species, found mainly in South and Central America, is repeatedly detected on the western shores of Europe. Agrius cingulata can be distinguished on the basis of the clearly stronger pink colouring of the abdominal segments and a similarly coloured rear wing base. In addition, Agrius convolvuli form pseudoconvolvuli Schaufuss, 1870 has some resemblance with North American species in the genus Manduca, for instance Manduca sexta.[citation needed]
Gallery
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Agrius convoluli variation
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Larva of Agrius convolvuli
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Larva of Agrius convolvuli
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Pupa of Agrius convolvuli
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Feeding in flight
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References
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- ^ Michael Chinery, Collins Guide to the Insects of Great Britain and Western Europe
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
- Convolvulus Hawk-moth at UKMoths
- Description in Richard South The Moths of the British Isles
- Lepiforum e.V.
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