Neha Patil (Editor)

Proserpinus

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Subfamily
  
Macroglossinae

Higher classification
  
Phylum
  
Family
  
Scientific name
  
Proserpinus

Rank
  
Genus

Proserpinus European Lepidoptera and their ecology Proserpinus proserpina

Similar
  
Willowherb hawkmoth, Sphingidae, Butterflies and moths, Smerinthus, Hemaris

Pacific green sphinx moth proserpinus lucidus


Proserpinus is a genus of moths in the family Sphingidae, the sphinx moths or hawk moths. Species of the genus are native to North America with the exception of P. proserpinus, which has a much larger range extending from Asia to Africa.

Contents

Proserpinus Proserpinus proserpina

In general, these moths are green with orange or red hindwings. Like many other hawk moths, they hover in front of flowers like hummingbirds to feed on nectar. The larvae specialize on plants of the evening primrose family, Onagraceae. Exceptions are P. flavofaciata, which has a black and yellow coloration, and P. terlooii, which feeds on spiderlings, plants of the four o'clock family, Nyctaginaceae.

Proserpinus wwwdiscoverlifeorgIMIMPG0233320Proserpinus

There are seven species. Arctonotus lucidus may be included as P. lucidus.

Species include:

  • Proserpinus clarkiae (Boisduval, 1852) – Clark's day sphinx
  • Proserpinus flavofasciata Walker, 1856 – yellow-banded day sphinx
  • Proserpinus gaurae (JE Smith, 1797) – proud sphinx
  • Proserpinus juanita (Strecker, 1876)
  • Proserpinus lucidus Boisduval, 1852 (syn. Arctonotus lucidus)
  • Proserpinus proserpina (Pallas, 1772) – willowherb hawkmoth
  • Proserpinus terlooii Edwards, 1875 – Terloo's sphinx
  • Proserpinus vega (Dyar, 1903) – Vega sphinx

  • Proserpinus FileProserpinus proserpina Livorno 2JPG Wikimedia Commons

    Proserpinus vega caterpillars rare


    References

    Proserpinus Wikipedia


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