HEMARIS CROATICA FAHIRA de Freina, 2004

UK: Olive Bee Hawkmoth, F: Macroglosse de Croatie, D: Olivegrüner Hummelschwärmer, RUS: Shmelevidka kroatskaja, CZ: Dlouhozobka korutanská, FIN: Kroatianpäiväkiitäjä, I: Sfinge croata, HR: hrvatska golupka.

Type locality: Iran, Lorestan/Luristan Province, 25km southeast of Masur, 980m.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL AFFILIATION

Holarctic; western Palaearctic region. Pleistocene refuge: Monocentric -- Iranian refugium.

ADULT DESCRIPTION AND VARIATION

Wingspan: 65--71mm. The smallest individual is larger than the largest individual known for Hemaris croatica croatica (Esper, 1800), both in wingspan and body size. It differs also in colour tone and wing shape. Both fore- and hindwings are noticeably broader and 'rounder' than in Hemaris croatica croatica, with the outer margin of the former being markedly convex.

ADULT BIOLOGY

Diurnal. Found on open, hot, dry meadows interspersed with patches of woodland on hillsides at 980m altitude (de Freine, 2004).

FLIGHT-TIME

So far, only observed during the first week of May at 980m altitude (de Freine, 2004).

EARLY STAGES

OVUM: Unknown, but probably as for Hemaris croatica croatica.

LARVA: Unknown, but probably as for Hemaris croatica croatica.

Major Hostplants. Unknown, but probably as for Hemaris croatica croatica.

Minor Hostplants. Unknown.

PUPA: Unknown, but probably as for Hemaris croatica croatica.

PARASITOIDS

Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION

So far, only known from a small area of Lorestan/Luristan Province, western Iran (de Freine, 2004).

Extra-limital range. None.

OTHER SUBSPECIES

South-east Europe, the southern Ukraine, the northern Middle East and Iran as Hemaris croatica croatica.