GB: Striped Hawkmoth, F: Sphinx livournien, D: Linienschwärmer, RU: Lineichatyi Brazhnik, S: Vitribbade Skymningssvämare, NL: Gestreepte Pijlstaart, H: sávos szender, E: esfíngido de la vid, oruga de esteva
Sphinx livornica Esper, 1780, Die Schmett. 2: 88.Type locality: Germany.
(Taxonomic note. H. lineata (Fabricius, 1775), under which H. livornica used to be listed as a subspecies, is a distinct species restricted to the New World (Harbich, 1980a, 1982). The morphological differences between the two have been well documented by Eitschberger & Steiniger (1976). Differences in distribution are reviewed by Haxaire (1993).)
Palaeotropical (but not rainforest areas of Africa and Asia), Holomediterranean and Saharo-Arabian. Pleistocene refuge: probably the Afrotropical region.
Wingspan: 60--85mm. Similar to many other species of the genus, but with distinctive, white forewing venation. Although extremely variable in size, with some individuals dwarfing others, it exhibits very little other variation except in the intensity of coloration and degree of pattern. In the southern Sahara, small pale individuals occur which are referable to f. saharae Stauder (1921a). This is in agreement with Speidel & Hassler (1989).
A noted migrant, generally found in open ground with few trees and shrubs, such as rough grazing land, parched hillsides and sand-dunes, or in vineyards. In semi-desert areas, huge numbers can build up during winter and spring, especially after heavy rains.
An extremely active species, normally flying towards evening, when considerable numbers are often attracted to sweet-smelling flowers and to light. Pairing always takes place at dawn over a period of two or three hours. Thereafter, females can cover considerable distances whilst egg-laying. In southern Europe and North Africa, many are also active during daylight hours, especially when on migration. (See also Heinig (1981b).)
Migrant and multivoltine in its southern range from late February to October, with a peak in March or April. Farther north, migrants and their offspring have been recorded from late May to October. Mass spring emergences often occur after multiple periods of heavy rain.
OVUM: Slightly oval (1.1 x 1.0mm), glossy and pale green. Tiny for the size of moth. Laid on the upper and underside of leaves of the hostplant, with four or five to a small plant.
LARVA: Full-fed, 65--80mm. Polymorphic.
Newly hatched, 4mm long; greenish white, with black head and horn. With feeding, body darkens to olive green; in second instar the final pattern appears, thereafter becoming more brilliant at each moult. Fully-grown larvae are usually of the colour form depicted above in hot, dry areas. Some, however, have very extensive black markings (cooler areas); green stripes instead of yellow; and a plum-coloured ventral surface. A very different colour form exists commonly in North Africa, i.e. pale apple-green with yellow eye-spots and speckling (see below).
At all stages, larvae feed quite openly on their low-growing hostplants, alternating bouts of frenzied feeding, when large quantities of food are consumed, with spells of basking. When disturbed, young individuals will drop from the plant; older larvae will twitch violently from side to side while regurgitating food. (See also Heinig (1981b).)
Found in North Africa from February until October -- sometimes in hundreds of thousands in semi-desert areas after a winter with good rains; farther north from June until September.
Major Hostplants. Rumex, Polygonum and, in North Africa and the Middle East, the flower- and seed-heads of Asphodelus (Pittaway, 1979b; Rungs, 1981).
It should be noted that during mass occurrences starving larvae can complete their development on a great many species of plants not normally eaten, such as cotton (Gossypium) (Benlloch, 1931).
Minor Hostplants. Vitis, Parthenocissus, Fuchsia, Galium, Antirrhinum, Plantago, Zygophyllum fabago, Emex spinosus, and, in Asia Minor, the flower-heads of Eremurus. It has also been known to feed on various other plants, including Pelargonium, Boerhavia, Beta, Asparagus, Acacia, Linaria, Cicer, Fagopyrum, and many others (Durand, 1931). In Libya it has been recorded from Olea europaea, Acacia saligna, Eucalyptus resinifera and E. rostrata; however, those feeding on the eucalypts failed to pupate (Jannone, 1966). Olea has also been recorded from Tunisia (Bernard, 1964). Also, in recent years this species has become a minor pest of Arbutus unedo (the strawberry tree) in the Mediterranean area (Jannone, 1966; Scortichini, 1986). It used to be an occasional major pest of grapevines in southern Europe and North Africa during mass migrations (Delassus, 1923; Guillemenet & Roche, 1957; Mijuskovic & Radulovic, 1960), attacking even the unripe fruits (Bredemann, 1919). Occasionally, it also stripped whole fields of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) (Zryakovskii, 1930).
PUPA: 30--45mm. More elongate than most Hyles species and variable in the amount of brown coloration present, some being yellowish or even translucent. Like others of the genus, encased in a flimsy, silk cocoon amongst ground litter or in a grass tussock. Overwinters as a pupa and may diapause for more than one year.
Tachinidae: Drino vicina (Zetterstedt), D. (Palexorista) imberbis (Wiedemann), Nemorilla maculosa, Spoggosia aegyptiaca.
Occurs throughout the region, but resident only in the south; a migrant elsewhere, often in very large numbers, except the extreme north. Recorded several times from Novosibirsk in western Siberia, Russia (Izerskiy, 1999).
Extra-limital range. Africa to southern India, China and Japan.
None. 'Subsp.' livornicoides (Lucas, 1892) from Australia is a distinct species. (An interesting analysis of the distribution of the lineata/livornica complex is given by Haxaire (1993).)
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