Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic

by A.R. Pittaway

Male Agrius convolvuli, Austria

Systematic List


Coverage and sources

This work is a detailed study of the species and subspecies of Sphingidae that occur regularly within the zoogeographical boundaries of the western Palaearctic region, with particular emphasis on their ecology and dynamic biogeography: notes on their morphology and taxonomy are also provided. The Hyles euphorbiae 'complex' is analysed in more detail with regard to ecological and biological factors. With about 71 percent of the region's sphingid taxa being endemic, the treatment of the western Palaearctic as a distinct sub-region of the Holarctic is justified. The zoological and botanical delimitation of the sub-region is given and a small gazetteer is provided.

The three main sources of information for this home page were:

PITTAWAY, A.R. (1993). The hawkmoths of the western Palaearctic, 240pp., 13 pls. London & Colchester, UK: Harley Books.

PITTAWAY, A.R. (1995). Sphingidae of the western Palaearctic: their ecology and biogeography. PhD Thesis, Imperial College, University of London, UK.

KITCHING, I.J. & CADIOU, J.-M. (2000). Hawkmoths of the world; an annotated and illustrated revisionary checklist (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), x + 227pp., 8 pls. Ithaca & London, USA & UK: Cornell University Press.

References

Many references were consulted in the preparation of this work; these are listed in the reference section. Additionally, this work would have been difficult to produce without the help, advice and guidance received from many people in many ways. These are acknowledged in the acknowledgements section.


What's new

Find out what's been added or changed.


Links to other sites of interest

A list of internet sites dealing with Sphingidae and Lepidoptera in general.


Moths of the moment

Sphinx franckii Neumoegen, 1893 Picture -- Franck's Sphinx.

Sphinx perelegans Henry Edwards, 1874 Picture -- Elegant Sphinx.


Last updated on: 9 April 2009
Site created: 29 March 1997

© A.R. Pittaway. No part of this work may be used for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author; however, any part may be used for research or other non-commercial purposes without prior permission. Please note that illustrations provided by authors other than Tony Pittaway remain the copyright of those authors and should not be reproduced other than with their permission.

This reference can be quoted in publications as: Pittaway, A.R. (1997-2009). Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic. http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/list.htm


Tony Pittaway
8 Fairfield
Cholsey
Wallingford
Oxon OX10 9QA
England, UK

e-mail: tpittaway@aol.com