Noctuidae : Psaphidinae
Sprawler
ASTEROSCOPUS sphinx (Hufnagel, 1766)
Sprawler
ASTEROSCOPUS sphinx (Hufnagel, 1766)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 39 - 49mm
Worldwide Distribution: Central & Southern Europe : Asia Minor : Caucasus
UK Distribution: England - southern half & Wales - well distributed : Northern England & Ireland - local : Channel Isles - extremely rare - only ever recorded in Jersey 1903 & 1977
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Broadleaved woodland : Gardens
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates beneath the soil
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: The moth is unmistakable firstly due to a very late flight period and and having no similar species ,secondly from the hairy thorax,streaked markings and broad forewing.
There is a black basal streak, clearly seen in photo 2, and the forewings are brownish-grey whilst the hindwings are creamy white sometimes having brown venation markings,especially the male.
The species is of conservation concern and is listed under the UK Biodiversity plan NERC.41 & 42 for England and Wales respectively and is a priority species in Northern Ireland.
The moth is attracted to light especially the moth trap,security lighting and underpasses.
Worldwide Distribution: Central & Southern Europe : Asia Minor : Caucasus
UK Distribution: England - southern half & Wales - well distributed : Northern England & Ireland - local : Channel Isles - extremely rare - only ever recorded in Jersey 1903 & 1977
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity
- Northern Ireland - Priority Species : 2010
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- Least Concern
- Phalaena sphinx (Hufnagle, 1766)
- Bombyx cassinia ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
- Germany - Berlin Region
Habitat: Broadleaved woodland : Gardens
Similar Species -
- None
Pupa: Pupates beneath the soil
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: The moth is unmistakable firstly due to a very late flight period and and having no similar species ,secondly from the hairy thorax,streaked markings and broad forewing.
There is a black basal streak, clearly seen in photo 2, and the forewings are brownish-grey whilst the hindwings are creamy white sometimes having brown venation markings,especially the male.
The species is of conservation concern and is listed under the UK Biodiversity plan NERC.41 & 42 for England and Wales respectively and is a priority species in Northern Ireland.
The moth is attracted to light especially the moth trap,security lighting and underpasses.
Photo Gallery
Larva
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.
- Aceraceae - Maple Family
- Acer pseudoplatanus - Sycamore
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Carpinus betulus - Hornbeam
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
- Lonicera canadensis - Fly Honeysuckle
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Fagus sylvatica - Beech
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak : Common Oak
- Oleceae - Mesophytic Shrubs - Trees - Vines
- Fraxinus excelsior - Ash
- Syringa vulgaris - Lilac
- Rhamnaceae - The Buckthorn Family
- Rhamnus frangula - Alder Buckthorn
- Rhamnus cathartica - Common Buckthorn (Flowers & Seeds)
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn
- Malus domestica - Apple
- Prunus armeniaca - Apricot
- Prunus avium - Wild Cherry
- Prunus insititia - Damson
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn/Sloe - Britain
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Tiliaceae - Lime Family
- Tilia cordata - Small-leaved Lime
- Tilia vulgaris - Lime - Linden
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ASTEROSCOPUS: Original species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Psaphidinae ASTEROSCOPUS Boisduval, 1828 Asteroscopus sphinx (Hufnagel, 1766) - Bombyx cassinia ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775) - PHALAENA sphinx (Hufnagel, 1766) = Bombyx cassinia Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 = Brachionycha sphinx alpina Seifers, 1916 - Berlin. Magazin : 3 (4) : Title Page : p.400 - n.75 - Germany - Berlin Region |