HYLES CRETICA Eitschberger, Danner & Surholt, 1998

GB: Cretan Spurge Hawkmoth

Type locality: Crete.

(Taxonomic note. Hundsdoerfer, Mende, Kitching & Cordellier (2011) have discovered that all mtDNA haplotypes of H. cretica form a discrete lineage that clusters between the 'italica' lineage characteristic of the Hyles euphorbiae population found in Italy and Sicily south of the Po River, and true Hyles tithymali. On mtDNA alone, it is sufficiently different from both to be considered a distinct species, although more closely related to Hyles tithymali.)

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION

Holarctic; western Palaearctic region. Pleistocene refuge: Monocentric -- Crete (Mediterranean refuge).

ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Wingspan: 69--80mm. Similar in coloration and pattern to some individuals of Hyles tithymali mauretanica from Morocco.

Unlike in Hyles euphorbiae, where females usually call and mate between 22.00 and 24.00 hours (Harbich, 1994), and Hyles tithymali, where females call and mate between 01.30 and 03.00 hours (Harbich, 1994), females of Hyles cretica call and mate towards dawn (Michael Mende, pers. comm 2011). In this way it has managed to remain reproductively isolated from the other two species.

ADULT BIOLOGY

An inhabitant of arid hillsides with a good growth of Euphorbia.

FLIGHT-TIME

So far as is known, February to October in a number of broods. May be continuous-brooded.

EARLY STAGES

OVUM: Similar to that of Hyles tithymali 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 similar to that of Hyles tithymali mauretanica. Full-grown larvae also look similar to that subspecies; however, in behaviour it is very similar to that of Hyles tithymali tithymali.

Occurs from March to December.

Hostplant. Euphorbia spp.

PUPA: Indistinguishable from Hyles tithymali tithymali. Overwinters as a pupa.

PARASITOIDS

None recorded.

DISTRIBUTION

Confined to the islands of Crete, Rhodes, Chalki and Samos (Danner, Eitschberger & Surholt, 1998).

Extra-limital range. None.