Hyles lineata

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White-lined sphinx
Hummingbird Moth (9687769149).jpg
Hyles lineata feeding
Hummingbird-moth-caterpillar-hyles-lineata-larva.jpg
The caterpillar varies widely in coloration, from black with stripes to green with red spots.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Hyles
Species:
H. lineata
Binomial name
Hyles lineata
(Fabricius, 1775) [1]
Synonyms
  • Sphinx lineataFabricius, 1775
  • Celerio lineata
  • Deilephila lineata
  • Sphinx daucusCramer, [1777]
  • Sphinx lineata americanaLaporte, 1830
  • Celerio lineata florilegaKernbach, 1962
  • Celerio lineata lineatoidesGehlen, 1934

Hyles lineata, also known as the white-lined sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. They are sometimes known as a "hummingbird moth" because of their bird-like size (2-3 inch wingspan) and flight patterns. [2]

Contents

As caterpillars, they have a wide range of color phenotypes but show consistent adult coloration. [3] With a wide geographic range throughout Central and North America, H. lineata is known to feed on many different host plants as caterpillars and pollinate a variety of flowers as adults. [4] [5]

Larvae are powerful eaters and are known to form massive groupings capable of damaging crops and gardens. [5] As adults, they use both visual and olfactory perception to locate plants from which they collect nectar. [6]

Description

Caterpillar

Larvae show wide variation in color. The larvae are black with orange spots arranged in lines down the whole body. Their head's prothoracic shield, and the anal plate, are one color, either green or orange with small black dots. [3] A tail-like spine protruding from the back of the body is a typical for sphingid moth caterpillars, known as “hornworms”. [2] This horn, which may sometimes be yellow and have a black tip, is not a stinger, and the caterpillars are not harmful to humans. [7] The larvae can also sometimes be lime green and black.

Adult

The forewing is dark brown with a tan stripe which extends from the base to the apex. There are also white lines that cover the veins. The black hindwing has a broad pink median band. It has a wingspan of 2 to 3 inches. This moth is large and has a stout furry body. The dorsal hind region is crossed by six distinct white stripes and similar striping patterns on the wings. The hindwings are black with a thick, red-pink stripe in the middle. [7]

Geographic range

Hyles lineata is one of the most abundant hawk moths in North America and has a very wide geographic range. [4] This range extends from Central America to southern Canada through Mexico and most of the United States. [5] They can also be found occasionally in the West Indies. [5] Rarely, specimens have also been reported in Eurasia and Africa. [5] [ additional citation(s) needed ]

The abundance of Hyles lineata populations in specific locations varies significantly from year to year, and has been thought to influence selection on flower phenotypes, although studies throughout the years show mixed results. [8]

Habitat

Hovering over flowers in Vail Village. Vail, Colorado White-lined Sphinx.png
Hovering over flowers in Vail Village. Vail, Colorado

With such a wide geographic range, H. lineata are known to live in a variety of habitats, including deserts, gardens and suburbs. [5] They have also been seen in abundance in the mountains of Colorado, but their presence varies from year to year in many places. [8]

White-lined Sphinx moth hovering over Honeysuckle in Fort Collins, Colorado White-lined Sphinx, Fort Collins, CO.png
White-lined Sphinx moth hovering over Honeysuckle in Fort Collins, Colorado

Food resources

Caterpillars

Source: [5]

Adults

Source: [5]

The adults will feed on different flowers depending on time of day. If at night, they will choose flowers that are white or pale colored, which are easier to identify in contrast to the dark foliage surrounding the flower. If during daylight, they will choose flowers that are more brightly colored. [7]

Behavior

The foraging patterns of H. lineata varies according to altitude, temperature and other factors, all of which are highly variable over its vast geographic distribution. [4]

Resting near grape leaves at dusk. Santa Barbara, California. White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) resting on an outdoor structure.png
Resting near grape leaves at dusk. Santa Barbara, California.

Hyles lineata prefer flying at night but also sometimes fly during the day. They are most commonly seen at dusk and dawn.

Pollination

H. lineata are common pollinators and are known to collect nectar from flowers. As caterpillars they feed on a huge diversity of host plants and as adults they prefer nectar over flowers. [5] A study from the 1970s focused on H. lineata nectar feeding patterns in Emerald Lake, Colorado, specifically on Aquilegia coerulea flowers. Of the H. lineata individuals that had visited A. coerulea flowers, two groups of moths were identified, one with patches of pollen near their eyes and ones with no detectable pollen on their bodies. Between the two groups, tongue length was significantly different, with longer-tongued individuals having no pollen and shorter-tongued individuals having pollen. These results suggest that within H. lineata, some individuals are effective pollinators while some are not pollinating at all, with shorter-tongued individuals carrying out the most effective pollination. [8]

Other studies have investigated its role as pollinators in flower morphology. Individuals visiting Aquilegia chrysantha flowers in Pima County, AZ, had proboscis lengths very similar to the length of the nectar spur of the flower, suggesting coevolution. [4]

Hawk moths, including H. lineata, are considered long-tongued nectar foragers, although nearly 20% of all hawk moth species have very short tongues compared to H. lineata. A 1997 study found correlations between tongue length and latitude distribution: mean tongue length declines from around 40 mm to as short as 15 mm as northern latitude increase from 0 to 50 degrees. The author speculates that tongues have lengthened in hawk moths of extratropical regions where it is more difficult and energetically costly to find larval food plants that are often inconspicuous, thus they need to take up more nectar at once to fuel their longer flights. Conversely, in more northern regions, short tongues are sufficient because finding larval food plants is an easier task and they do not need to take up as much nectar to fuel their flights. [9]

One 2009 study showed that whiter flowers are associated with an annual presence of hawk moths, including H. lineata. Their data also showed that the annual presence of H. lineata populations selects for whiter flowers. Other hawk moth species with similar range overlap, specifically Sphinx vashti , show a correlation of annual presence with longer spurs on flowers. Thus hawk moths in general have been demonstrated to impact selection on flower morphology. [10]

Life history

Oviposition

In the spring, adult females lay eggs on various types of plants, on which the resulting larvae feed. Each individual female can produce hundreds of eggs over her life. [7]

Seasonality

Larvae overwinter and can emerge between February and November, at which point they begin to feed on a variety of host plants. Caterpillars are known to be ardent eaters. When preparing to transition into the pupal stage, caterpillars dig shallow burrows in the ground where they then stay for 2 to 3 weeks, at which point they emerge as adults. As they get closer to pupating, they will wiggle up closer to the surface which makes it easier to emerge. [2]

Adults typically do not survive cold northern winters, but larvae overwinter and moths begin to appear in mid-May. Depending on abundance, a second flight may occur in late August or early September. Larvae are known to gather and form giant hordes in search of host plants, and they can eat entire plants, cover entire roadways and form huge slick masses as they go. [7]

Typically there are two generations per year, but warmer climate see more generations. [7]

Physiology

Flight

H. lineata, when feeding, tend to hover in front of flowers and control their hovering by visual cues from the flowers. [6]

Vision

Close-up of eye & head Hyles Lineata (white-lines sphinx moth).jpg
Close-up of eye & head

Though hawk moths can be both diurnal or nocturnal (or both), they all have three spectral receptors that are sensitive to blue light, green light and ultraviolet. Though it was originally assumed that hawk moths relied primarily on olfactory cues to locate flowers, due to their prevalence at particularly odorous plants, studies have shown that hawk moths actually have great vision and are very sensitive to light. [6]


Olfaction

Though vision is a key component of H. lineata physiology, they do also have strong olfactory capabilities. They have been shown to be very sensitive to odors coming from flowers, and they have a strong ability to learn flower odors quickly. [6]

Interactions with humans

Food source

The caterpillars have been (and in some places still are) gathered and eaten by Native Americans (e.g., [11] ). After collection, they would be skewered and roasted for a feast, and any leftovers were stored whole or ground up after being dried. [7] The nutritional value of the larvae has been analyzed, and found to be significant; they contain almost as much fat as hamburger meat, but have almost one-third less saturated fat, and more energy (in calories), protein, carbohydrate, riboflavin, and niacin than hamburger meat. [12]

Pest of crop plants

Caterpillars often form massive groups in search for food. Outbreaks have been reported in Utah that have damaged grapes, tomatoes and garden crops. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moth</span> Group of mostly-nocturnal insects in the order Lepidoptera

Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is paraphyletic with respect to butterflies and neither subordinate taxon is used in modern classifications. Moths make up the vast majority of the order. There are approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of which have yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal, although there are also crepuscular and diurnal species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hummingbird hawk-moth</span> Species of moth

The hummingbird hawk-moth is a species of hawk moth found across temperate regions of Eurasia. The species is named for its similarity to hummingbirds, as they feed on the nectar of tube-shaped flowers using their long proboscis while hovering in the air; this resemblance is an example of convergent evolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sphingidae</span> Family of insects

The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as "hornworms"; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region. They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their agile and sustained flying ability, similar enough to that of hummingbirds as to be reliably mistaken for them. Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight. The family was named by French zoologist Pierre André Latreille in 1802.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death's-head hawkmoth</span> Species of moth

The name death's-head hawkmoth refers to any of three moth species of the genus Acherontia. The former species is found throughout Africa and in Europe, the latter two are Asian; most uses of the common name refer to the African species. These moths are easily distinguishable by the vaguely human skull-shaped pattern of markings on the thorax. They are large nocturnal moths with brown and yellow or orange coloring, and all three species are fairly similar in size, coloration and life cycle.

<i>Deilephila elpenor</i> Species of moth

Deilephila elpenor, the elephant hawk moth or large elephant hawk moth, is a moth in the family Sphingidae. Its common name is derived from the caterpillar's resemblance to an elephant's trunk. It is most common in central Europe and is distributed throughout the Palearctic region. It has also been introduced in British Columbia, Canada. Its distinct olive and pink colouring makes it one of the most recognisable moths in its range. However, it is quite easy to confuse the elephant hawk moth with the small elephant hawk moth, a closely related species that also shares the characteristic colours.

<i>Manduca quinquemaculata</i> Species of moth

Manduca quinquemaculata, the five-spotted hawkmoth, is a brown and gray hawk moth of the family Sphingidae. The caterpillar, often referred to as the tomato hornworm, can be a major pest in gardens; they get their name from a dark projection on their posterior end and their use of tomatoes as host plants. Tomato hornworms are closely related to the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. This confusion arises because caterpillars of both species have similar morphologies and feed on the foliage of various plants from the family Solanaceae, so either species can be found on tobacco or tomato leaves. Because of this, the plant on which the caterpillar is found does not indicate its species.

<i>Agrius cingulata</i> Species of moth

Agrius cingulata, the pink-spotted hawkmoth or sweetpotato hornworm, is a moth in the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.

<i>Hemaris</i> Genus of moths

Hemaris is a genus of sphinx moths in the subfamily Macroglossinae, which is native to the Holarctic. Their main host plants are herbs and shrubs of the teasel and honeysuckle families. Moths in genus Hemaris are known collectively as clearwing moths or hummingbird moths in the US and Canada and bee hawk-moths in Britain. The related Old World hummingbird hawk-moths, genus Macroglossum, are similar in appearance and habits. Both genera have tails that are provided with an expansile truncated tuft of hairs, but only Hemaris has the disc of the wings transparent, as these scales are dropped soon after eclosion.

<i>Sphinx perelegans</i> Species of insect

Sphinx perelegans, commonly known as the elegant sphinx, is a species of hawkmoth described by Henry Edwards in 1874. It is a large gray moth native to western North America.

<i>Daphnis nerii</i> Species of moth

Daphnis nerii, the oleander hawk-moth or army green moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

<i>Hyles gallii</i> Species of moth

Hyles gallii, the bedstraw hawk-moth or galium sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by S. A. von Rottemburg in 1775.

<i>Eumorpha achemon</i> Species of moth

Eumorpha achemon, the Achemon sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.

<i>Hemaris thysbe</i> Species of moth

Hemaris thysbe, the hummingbird clearwing, is a moth of the family Sphingidae (hawkmoths). Coloration varies between individuals, but typically the moth is olive green and burgundy on its back, and white or yellow and burgundy on the underside. Its wings are transparent with a reddish-brown border. It has light-colored legs, which combined with the lack of striping on the underside is diagnostic. Beating its wings rapidly, H. thysbe hovers to collect nectar from a variety of flowers. The combination of its appearance and its behavior commonly leads to it being confused with a hummingbird or bumblebee.

<i>Proserpinus</i> Genus of moths

Proserpinus is a genus of moths in the family Sphingidae, the sphinx moths or hawk moths. Species of the genus are native to North America with the exception of P. proserpinus, which has a much larger range extending from Asia to Africa. The genus was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819.

<i>Xanthopan</i> Genus of moths

Xanthopan is a monotypic genus of sphinx moth, with Xanthopan morganii, commonly called Morgan's sphinx moth, as its sole species. It is a very large sphinx moth from Southern Africa and Madagascar. Little is known about its biology, though the adults have been found to visit orchids and are one of the main pollinators of several of the Madagascar endemic baobab (Adansonia) species, Adansonia perrieri or Perrier's baobab.

<i>Hyles livornica</i> Species of moth

Hyles livornica, the striped hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

<i>Hyles nicaea</i> Species of moth

Hyles nicaea, the Mediterranean hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Leonardo de Prunner in 1798.

<i>Basiothia schenki</i> Species of moth

Basiothia schenki, the brown striped hawk, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1872. It is known from Zimbabwe and South Africa.

<i>Hyles centralasiae</i> Species of moth

Hyles centralasiae, the eastern foxtail-lily hawkmoth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Otto Staudinger in 1887. It is found from eastern Turkey and Armenia east across northern Iraq, northern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, the mountainous areas of eastern Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and northern Xinjiang in China.

References

  1. ↑ "Sphingidae Taxonomic Inventory: Hyles lineata". sphingidae.myspecies.info. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  2. 1 2 3 "Species Spotlight: White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata) - Cabrillo National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
  3. 1 2 David L. Wagner (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. ISBN   0-691-12144-3
  4. 1 2 3 4 Boggs, C. L. (2003). Butterflies . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp.  63.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Butterflies and Moths of North America | collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera". Butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Kelber, Almut; Balkenius, Anna; Warrant, Eric J. (August 2003). "Colour vision in diurnal and nocturnal hawkmoths". Integrative and Comparative Biology. 43 (4): 571–579. doi: 10.1093/icb/43.4.571 . ISSN   1540-7063. PMID   21680465.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata". Master Gardener Program. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
  8. 1 2 3 Miller, Russell B. (1981-07-01). "Hawkmoths and the geographic patterns of floral variation in Aquilegia caerulea". Evolution. 35 (4): 763–774. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1981.tb04936.x . ISSN   1558-5646. PMID   28563131. S2CID   38127528.
  9. ↑ Miller, William (1997). "Diversity and evolution of tongue length in hawkmoths (Sphingidae)" (PDF). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 51: 9–31.
  10. ↑ Brunet, Johanne (June 2009). "Pollinators of the Rocky Mountain columbine: temporal variation, functional groups and associations with floral traits". Annals of Botany. 103 (9): 1567–1578. doi:10.1093/aob/mcp096. ISSN   0305-7364. PMC   2701757 . PMID   19414518.
  11. ↑ Fenenga, G. L, & Fisher, E. M. (1978). The Cahuilla use of piyatem, larvae of the White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata) as food. The Journal of California Anthropology, 5(1).
  12. ↑ M. Tarre (2010) Fit to Be Eaten: A Brief Introduction to Entomophagy. Sonorensis 30(1):11-17.
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