Hyles nicaea

Mediterranean hawk-moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Hyles
Species:	H. nicaea
Binomial name
Hyles nicaea (de Prunner, 1798)
Synonyms
Sphinx nicaea de Prunner, 1798 Sphinx cyparissiae Hübner, [1813] Celerio rubida Oberthür, 1916 Deilephila nicaea castissima Austaut, 1883 Deilephila nicaea carnea Austaut, 1889 Celerio nicaea margine-denticulata Oberthür, 1916 Celerio nicaea albina Oberthür, 1916 Celerio nicaea libanotica Gehlen, 1932 Celerio nicaea sheljuzkoi Dublitzky, 1928 Deilephila nicaea lathyrus Walker, 1856 Deilephila nicaea crimaea A. Bang-Haas, 1906 Deilephila nicaea orientalis Austaut, 1905

Hyles nicaea (Mediterranean hawk-moth) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The nominate subspecies is found from southern Portugal and Spain though southern Europe to Turkey. It is also found on the Balearic Islands and in south-western Bulgaria.

The wingspan is 80–100 mm. Adults are on wing in June in one generation. At times there is a partial second generation in August. Subspecies castissima is on wing from May to June and from July to August in two generations. Subspecies orientalis is on wing from June to July in one generation. Subspecies sheljuzkoi is on wing in May and July/August in two to three generations.

The larvae feed on Euphorbia species, including Euphorbia nicaeensis. Subspecies orientalis feeds on Euphorbia petrophila and Euphorbia seguieriana and sheljuzkoi has been recorded on Euphorbia oxydonta in Jordan.

A Hyles nicaea caterpillar on the Southern slopes of Alborz Mountains, near the town of Jaban, Damavand, Iran. The picture was taken in 2870m altitude in alpine scrubland.

A Hyles nicaea caterpillar on the Southern slopes of Alborz Mountains, near the townn of Jaban, Damavand, Iran. The picture was taken in 2870m altitude in alpine scrubland.

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Wikipedia