GB: Barbary Spurge Hawkmoth, F: Sphinx du Tithymale
Hyles cretica Eitschberger, Danner & Surholt, 1998, Herbipoliana 4(1): 251.Type locality: Crete.
(Taxonomic note. Studies of both larvae and adults demonstrate that H. cretica is best regarded as a subspecies of H. tithymali, a view also supported by Meerman (pers. comm.). The larva closely resembles that of H. t. mauretanica, and comparison of a number of reared adults with a large number of H. t. mauretanica indicate that H. t. cretica has interbred to some extent with vagrant individuals of H. euphorbiae.)
Holarctic; western Palaearctic region. Pleistocene refuge: Monocentric -- Crete (Mediterranean refuge).
Wingspan: 69--80mm. Similar in coloration and pattern to some individuals of H. t. mauretanica from Morocco.
An inhabitant of arid hillsides with a good growth of Euphorbia.
So far as is known, February to October in a number of broods. May be continuous-brooded.
OVUM: Similar to that of subsp. tithymali, i.e. small, very hard and blue-green in colour. Laid in large clusters on the growing tips of the hostplant.
LARVA: Full fed: 75--85mm. In the third and fourth instars the larva looks very similar to that of H. t. mauretanica. Full-grown larvae also look similar to that subspecies; however, in behaviour it is very similar to that of H. t. tithymali.
Occurs from March to December.
Hostplant. Euphorbia spp.
PUPA: Indistinguishable from subsp. tithymali. Overwinters as a pupa.
None recorded.
Confined to the island of Crete, but may also occur on Rhodes (Danner, Eitschberger & Surholt, 1998).
Extra-limital range. None.
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