Hippotion moorei
Encyclopedia
Hippotion moorei is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from dry areas from northern Tanzania
to Ethiopia
and Somalia
.
The length of the forewings 28-34 mm for males and 35-40 mm for females. It is very similar to Hippotion rosae
, but can be distinguished by the absence of the white margins to the tegulae and the thorax, which is unicolorous. The antennae are bright pink. Some specimens (form canens) are identical with H. rosae, except for the absence of the white margins to the thorax. Others (form moorei) have pinkish hindwings and are pinkish below. More extreme specimens are completely bright vinaceous above and below and speckled with blackish. All transitions between the extreme grey and pink forms occur in the same localities and therefore there is no question of subspecific differentiation. These forms are probably seasonal and climatic, the grey individuals being wet season forms.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...
family. It is known from dry areas from northern Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
The length of the forewings 28-34 mm for males and 35-40 mm for females. It is very similar to Hippotion rosae
Hippotion rosae
Hippotion rosae is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Dry areas from south-western Africa to Mozambique and northwards to East Africa. It is also present on Socotra....
, but can be distinguished by the absence of the white margins to the tegulae and the thorax, which is unicolorous. The antennae are bright pink. Some specimens (form canens) are identical with H. rosae, except for the absence of the white margins to the thorax. Others (form moorei) have pinkish hindwings and are pinkish below. More extreme specimens are completely bright vinaceous above and below and speckled with blackish. All transitions between the extreme grey and pink forms occur in the same localities and therefore there is no question of subspecific differentiation. These forms are probably seasonal and climatic, the grey individuals being wet season forms.