Hemaris aksana

Hemaris aksana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Hemaris
Species: H. aksana
Binomial name
Hemaris aksana
(Le Cerf, 1923)[1]
Synonyms
  • Haemorrhagia aksana Le Cerf, 1923

The Atlas bee hawkmoth (Hemaris aksana) is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from the Middle and High Atlas Mountains of Morocco.[2] The habitat consists of flower-rich meadows between 1,300 and 2,500 meters.

The wingspan is 44–51 mm. It is a diurnal species. Although mimicking a bumble bee in coloration, its flight is much more rapid and agile. Adults are on wing in March, June and August. At higher altitude, the flight period is the latter half of May or June. Here, there is generally one generation per year, although a partial second generation may occur in August.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Scabiosa species.

References

  1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  2. "Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic". Tpittaway.tripod.com. Retrieved 2011-10-19.