Lime Hawk-moth

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Lime Hawk-moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Sphingidae Genus: Mimas Species: M. tiliae
Binomial name
Mimas tiliae Linnaeus, 1758

The Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East.

This is an incredible species, quite variable in markings, the ground colour of the forewings being pinkish or buff, darker towards the tornus, marked with one or two dark green or brown blotches, often merged to form continuous fascia across the middle of the forewing. The hindwings are plainer, grey or buffish brown. The wingspan is 70-80 mm, the male usually being smaller but more strongly marked than the female. This moth flies at night in May and June ^[1] and is attracted to light. The adults do not feed.

The larva is green with yellow and red markings along the side and a horn at the hind end typical of the family. It feeds mainly on lime but has also been recorded feeding on other trees and shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa in the soil at the base of its host tree.

1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

[edit] Recorded food plants

• Alnus - Alder
• Betula - Birch
• Morus - Mulberry
• Prunus
• Quercus - Oak
• Tilia - Lime
• Ulmus - Elm

[edit] References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984