Sphinx ligustri

{{Redirect|Privet hawk moth|the other moth with this common name|Psilogramma menephron{{!}}Psilogramma menephron}}

{{Short description|Species of moth}}

{{Speciesbox

| name= Privet hawk moth

| image = Sphinx.ligustri.7631.jpg

| taxon = Sphinx ligustri

| authority = Linnaeus, 1758{{cite web|url=http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Sphinx/ligustri.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126080126/http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Sphinx/ligustri.html|archive-date=2012-11-26|url-status=dead|title=CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae|publisher=Cate-sphingidae.org|date=|access-date=2011-11-01}}

| synonyms =

{{Specieslist

|Sphinx chishimensis|Matsumura, 1929

|Sphinx spiraeae|Esper, 1800

|Sphinx ligustri albescens|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri amurensis|Oberthür, 1886

|Sphinx ligustri brunnea|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri brunnescens|(Lempke, 1959)

|Sphinx ligustri cingulata|(Lempke, 1964)

|Sphinx ligustri eichleri|Eitschberger, Danner & Surholt, 1992

|Sphinx ligustri fraxini|Dannehl, 1925

|Sphinx ligustri grisea|(Closs, 1917)

|Sphinx ligustri incerta|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri intermedia|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri lutescens|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri nisseni|Rothschild & Jordan, 1916

|Sphinx ligustri obscura|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri pallida|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri perversa|Gehlen, 1928

|Sphinx ligustri postrufescens|(Lempke, 1959)

|Sphinx ligustri rosacea|Rebel, 1910

|Sphinx ligustri seydeli|Debauche, 1934

|Sphinx ligustri subpallida|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri typica|Tutt, 1904

|Sphinx ligustri unifasciata|Gschwandner, 1912

|Sphinx ligustri weryi|Rungs, 1977

|Sphinx ligustri zolotuhini|Eitschberger & Lukhtanov, 1996

}}

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Sphinx ligustri, the privet hawk moth, is a moth found in most of the Palearctic realm. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

Description

It has a {{convert|12|cm}} wingspan (generally deflexed at rest), and is found in urban areas, forests and woodlands.

The male privet hawk moth can make a hissing sound, if disturbed, by rubbing together a set of scales and spines at the end of its abdomen.{{Cite web |date=2015-07-15 |title=Privet Hawk-moth – Natural Lizard |url=https://23.naturallizard.co.uk/2015/07/15/privet-hawkmoth/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |language=en-US}}

The larvae are usually found between July and August: and bury themselves in the earth when preparing to become a pupa. They then fly in the following June.{{cite book |title=The Natural History of British Insects: Explaining Them in Their Several States, With the Periods of Their Transformations, Their Food, Economy, &c. Together With the History of Such Minute Insects As Require Investigation by the Microscope: The Whole Illustrated by Coloured Figures, Designed and Executed from Living Specimens |author=Donovan, Edward |year=1792 |location=London |page=79 |url=https://archive.org/stream/naturalhistoryof899dono#page/n147/mode/2up}}

Diet

As both its common name and specific name - ligustri being derived from the Latin ligustrum, 'privet' - describes, the caterpillars feed on privets, as well as ash trees, lilacs, jasmine, and a number of other plants.

Gallery

Sphinx ligustri MHNT dos femelle.jpg|Female, dorsal side

Sphinx ligustri MHNT ventre femelle.jpg|Female, ventral side

Sphinx ligustri MHNT dos male.jpg|Male, dorsal side

Sphinx ligustri MHNT ventre male.jpg|Male, ventral side

File:Sphinx ligustri01.jpg|Caterpillar

File:Sphinx ligustri pupating1.jpg|Pupating

File:Sphinx ligustri pupating3.jpg|Pupa

File:Sphinx ligustri from plate 284 of naturalhistoryof899dono.jpg|Pupa, caterpillar, and adult

References

{{Reflist}}