Hyles livornica

Taxonomy and systematics

Eugen Johann Christoph Esper described the striped hawk-moth in 1780 using a specimen found in Italy at Livorno (hence the Latin name "livornica"). In 1819 Jacob Hübner allocated this species in his newly erected genus Hyles.

Until the 20th century Hyles livornica has been considered conspecific with the American Hyles lineata and is therefore under that name (or as Celerio lineata ssp. livornica) found in the older literature. Similar was the case with the Hyles livornicoides, which is prevalent in Australia. Hyles renneri from Nepal is sometimes treated as a valid species.

On the basis of DNA testing it is well established that H. livornica in its entire Afro-Palaearctic distribution forms a genetic and taxonomic unit. This results in the following relationships among the Palaearctic widespread species of the genus Hyles:

Synonyms

Description

Hyles livornica has a wingspan reaching 60–80 mm. Males are slightly smaller than females. The fore wings and the body are mainly olive brown or beige, with white stripes. The hind wings are pink, with black and white edges. The head and the thorax are olive-brown, with white stripes. The olive-brown abdomen has black-and-white segment, the first two segments have large black and white side spots. The antennae are dark olive brown and have a white tip.

These moths fly from February to October depending on the location. In Europe they are visible from April to June and from August to September in two generations and sometimes they overwinter. This species is a migrant from Africa to Europe.

The caterpillars are green, with black markings and reach a length from 65 to 80 millimeters. They feed on various plants, mainly on Galium, Gossypium, Rumex, Vitis, Euphorbia, Linaria, Epilobium, Antirrhinum, Scabiosa, Linum, Fuchsia and Asphodelus.

Distribution

This species is found in Africa, Southern Europe, Poland, Central and East Asia.