69.001 : 1979 : 6819
Sphingidae : Smerinthinae

Lime Hawk-moth

MIMAS tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
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 -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Sphinx tiliae Linnaeus, 1758
Type Species - Mimas
  • Sphinx tiliae Linnaeus, 1758
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: South-Late April to mid August : Elsewhere-May to early July
Habitat: Most habitats where L.F.P grows : Parks : Gardens : Urban areas-was most frequent in London
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The 65mm final instar larva is light green and covered in small yellow spots.There are usually seven-45° yellow stripes down the side of the larva each having a small reddish mark.There is a horn at the rear of the larva above the anal prolegs, which also has reddish markings.
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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - MIMAS:

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Forms/Aberrations:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Bombycoidea
Sphingidae
Smerinthinae
Smerinthini
MIMAS Hübner [1819]
Mimas Tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Sphinx Tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758)
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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
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 MIMAS Hübner 1819
= Lucena Rambur 1840
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.489 - n.3
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Not Specified
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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.