Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Sphingidae Scientific name Hippotion osiris | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Hippotion Rank Species | |
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Similar Hippotion eson, Nephele comma, Hippotion, Coelonia fulvinotata, Basiothia medea | ||
Hippotion osiris is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is common throughout most of the Ethiopian Region, including Madagascar and the Seychelles. Occasional vagrants have been recorded from Spain. It is uncommon on the East African coast. This species is an occasional migrant.
The length of the forewings is 34–42 mm and the wingspan is 85–98 mm. The body is light brown and the head and thorax are brownish pink laterally. The tegulae are edged with silvery white and with a longitudinal silvery line running from the base to the apex. The abdomen has a double silvery dorsal line and silvery lateral lines. There are two large lateral black spots at the base. The forewings are light brown, with an almost straight triple silvery line running from the inner margin near the base to the apex. There are a number of pinkish brown streaks in the anterior part of the wing and a straight submarginal silvery line followed by a pinkish brown terminal band. The hindwings are bright pink with a black spot near the base, some irregular black mottling near the costa and a black submarginal band. The marginal area is pinkish brown.
The larvae mainly feed on Vitis and Parthenocissus species, but have also been recorded on Richardsonia, Daucus, Rumex, Polygonum, Impatiens, Cissus, Ipomoea, Spathodea, Fuchsia and various Rubiaceae species.