Sphingidae : Smerinthinae
Lime Hawk-moth
MIMAS tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lime Hawk-moth
MIMAS tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 55-70mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Asia Minor : Russia : W.Siberia
UK Distribution: Widespread in southern half of England : Distribution spreading northwards : Wales-local : Channel Isles-Rare on Jersey
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Most habitats where L.F.P grows : Parks : Gardens : Urban areas-was most frequent in London
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates just below ground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: One of the most beautiful of the hawk moths, this species is unique, both from its coloration and wing shape.
The median band olive-green markings tend to vary in size from four separate markings to a continuous band as seen in the photos below.Various subspecies which affect this cross band are explained overleaf on the taxonomy page.The normal forewing colours are olive-green and pinkish but in f.brunnea Bartel, 1900 the colours are reddish brown and brick red.
Over the past few years the moth has spread its distribution northwards.
The moth can be found resting during the day on tree trunks,fences etc.
Attracted to light this moth is often found at the light trap.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Asia Minor : Russia : W.Siberia
UK Distribution: Widespread in southern half of England : Distribution spreading northwards : Wales-local : Channel Isles-Rare on Jersey
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Sphinx tiliae Linnaeus, 1758
- Sphinx tiliae Linnaeus, 1758
- Not Specified
Habitat: Most habitats where L.F.P grows : Parks : Gardens : Urban areas-was most frequent in London
Similar Species -
- None
Pupa: Pupates just below ground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: One of the most beautiful of the hawk moths, this species is unique, both from its coloration and wing shape.
The median band olive-green markings tend to vary in size from four separate markings to a continuous band as seen in the photos below.Various subspecies which affect this cross band are explained overleaf on the taxonomy page.The normal forewing colours are olive-green and pinkish but in f.brunnea Bartel, 1900 the colours are reddish brown and brick red.
Over the past few years the moth has spread its distribution northwards.
The moth can be found resting during the day on tree trunks,fences etc.
Attracted to light this moth is often found at the light trap.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Betulaceae - Birch Family
- Alnus glutinosa - Alder - Elder
- Alnus incana - Grey Alder
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - Downy Birch
- Hippocastanaceae - Horse Chestnut Family
- Aesculus hippocastanum - Horse Chestnut
- Juglandaceae - Walnut Family
- Juglans regia - Walnut
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Prunus avium - Wild Cherry
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Tiliaceae - Lime Family
- Tilia cordata - Small-leaved Lime
- Tilia platyphyllos - Large-leaved Lime
- Tilia vulgaris - Lime - Linden
- Ulmaceae - Elm Family
- Ulmus glabra - Wych Elm - Scots Elm
- Ulmus parvifolia - Chinese Elm
- Ulmus procera - English Elm - Common Elm
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - MIMAS: Original Species Name: Species Names: Genus Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Bombycoidea Sphingidae Smerinthinae Smerinthini MIMAS Hübner [1819] Mimas Tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758) - Sphinx Tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758) - SPHINX tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758) = ulmi Heydenreich, 1851 = maculata Wallengren, 1863 = tilioides Holle, 1865 = pechmanni Hartmann, 1879 = bipunctata Clark, 1891 = contripuncta Clark, 1891) = costipuncta Clark, 1891 = obsoleta Clark, 1891 = suffusa Clark, 1891 = brunnea Caradja, 1893 = immaculata Bartel, 1900 = brunnescens Staudinger, 1901 = exstincta Staudinger, 1901 = brunnea-centrpuncta Tutt, 1902 = brunnea-costipuncta Tutt, 1902 = brunnea-marginepuncta Tutt, 1902 = brunnea-obsoleta Tutt, 1902 = brunnea-transversa Tutt, 1902 = lutescens Tutt, 1902 = margine-puncta Tutt, 1902 = pallida-centripuncta Tutt, 1902 = pallida-costipuncta Tutt, 1902 = pallida-marginepuncta Tutt, 1902 = pallida-obsoleta Tutt, 1902 = pallida-transversa Tutt, 1902 = semiobsoleta Tutt, 1902 = virescens-centripuncta Tutt, 1902 = virescens-maculata Tutt, 1902 = virescens-marginepuncta Tutt, 1902 = virescens-obsoleta Tutt, 1902 = virescens-transversa Tutt, 1902 = atroviridis Closs, 1911 = trimaculata (Brombacher, 1915) = bimaculata Gillmer, 1916 = bimarginalis Gillmer, 1916 = colon Gillmer, 1916 = constricta Gillmer, 1916 = excessiva Gillmer, 1916 = fasciata Gillmer, 1916 = inversa Gillmer, 1916 = pseudo-trimaculata Gillmer, 1916 = semicentripuncta Gillmer, 1916 = clara Closs, 1917 = discifera Closs, 1917 = roseotincta Schawerda, 1922 = rufobrunnea Lenz, 1925 = griseothoracea Cabeau, 1931 = vitrina Gehlen, 1931 = virescens-bipuncta Lempke, 1937 = diluta Cockayne, 1953 = rubra Cockayne, 1953 = Mimas tiliae montana Daniel & Wolfsberger, 1955 = pallida-maculata Lempke, 1959 = postobscura Lempke, 1959 = pseudobipunctata Lempke, 1959 = typica-puncta Lempke, 1959 = angustefasciata Vilarrubia, 1973 = bicolor Vilarrubia, 1973 = latefasciata Vilarrubia, 1973 = reducta Vilarrubia, 1973 = rufescens Vilarrubia, 1973 - MIMAS Hübner 1819 = Lucena Rambur 1840 - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.489 - n.3 - Not Specified - M.t.f.brunnea Bartel, 1900-background red-brown M.t.f.viridis Closs, 1911-predominent colour green M.t.f.transversa Jordan, 1911-median band not interupted M.t.f.bipuncta Clarke,1891-interupted median band spots smaller M.t.f.costipuncta Clarke, 1891-costal spot smaller,other spot missing M.t.f.centripuncta Clarke, 1891-upper spot further away from costa,second spot missing M.t.f.obsoleta Clarke, 1891-band completely missing. |