Sphinx hypothous Cramer, 1780, Uitlandsche Kapellen (Papillons exot.) 3: 165, pl. 285, fig. D. Type locality: [Indonesia, Maluku,] Amboina [Ambon].
Wingspan: 86--120mm. Very like a dark D. nerii, but distinguished by a white spot at the forewing apex; head and collar uniformly dark purple-brown, thorax and first two abdominal segments dark green.
D. hypothous is a very fast flyer, attracted to both sweet-smelling flowers and light, but little else is known of its behaviour.
China: ii (Hong Kong); vi (Shandong); 25.vi (Yunnan); vii-viii (Guangdong); 23.vii-13.viii (Hong Kong); ix-xi (Hong Kong); x (Guangdong). Taiwan: iv-v (Kaohsiung Hsien; Pingtung Hsien); 22-25.vii (Pingtung Hsien); ix (Pingtung Hsien). Japan: viii (Ryukyu Archipelago, Tokushima).
OVUM: Very similar to that of D. nerii.
LARVA: Full-fed 60--100mm. Dichromatic: green or pale red. Fully-grown examples from India (Bell & Scott, 1937) are usually pale apple-green, the thoracic segments being darker than the abdominal segments. A white dorso-lateral line, tinged with orange at each end, extends from thoracic segment 2 to the base of the horn, and, on the abdominal segments, is edged with dark green above and sky-blue below. Laterally these segments bear dark green, oblique stripes and yellow dots, with a large, blue eye-spot on thoracic segment 3. The brown, tubercled horn, unlike that of D. nerii, is fully formed, stout, erect and slightly curved, similar in appearance to that of A. convolvuli. Although most larvae are green, some may be pale red. Before pupation, the whole body assumes a plum colour blotched with dark red.
Occurs on bushes, usually near water.
PUPA: 60--80mm. Similar to that of D. nerii, but with a thin black line running along the proboscis, over the head and along the whole dorsal surface, terminating, in this species, in a broad, triangular cremaster tipped with two points. The spiracles are located in a dark lateral band which runs parallel to two others along the ventral surface of the abdomen. Formed in a loosely spun cocoon among debris on the ground. Does not overwinter.
Larval hostplants. Unrecorded for China, but usually woody Rubiaceae. Cinchona, Wendlandia and Uncaria have been recoded from India (Bell & Scott, 1937). Records for Nerium are probably erroneous due to confusion with Daphnis nerii.
None recorded.
China: Shandong (Weihai); Sichuan; Yunnan (Mengzi; nr. Jinping, 2155m; Pingbian); Tibet/Xizang (Mutu, Namjagbarwa region, 2190m; Yadong, 2800m); Guizhou (Leishan, 990-1540m); Hunan; Guangdong (Longtou Shan); Hong Kong; Hainan.
Taiwan: Kaohsiung Hsien (Shanping, 640m); Pingtung Hsien (Kenting).
Japan: Ryukyu Archipelago (Tokushima).
A migrant to the north of China; the Shandong specimen was captured by T.B. Fletcher (1899) on 23 June 1898. Multi-brooded in the Oriental region.
Sri Lanka, southern and northern India, Nepal, Burma/Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia: a rare vagrant to the western Palaearctic region.
Also New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and northern Australia as the very distinct subspecies D. h. pallescens Butler, 1875.
Palaeotropical; Oriental region.
Return to Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic species list