SPHINGID^. By Dr. K. Jordan. 229 



16. Family: Sphingidae. 



The scientific name of this family is derived from the habit of the larvae of many species of affecting 

 a Sphinx-like attitude when being disturbed. The designation "Sphinx" was first used by Reaumur in 1736, 

 who applied it to the Privet-Hawk, and it was adopted by Linnaeus as a suitable generic name. However, 

 in his genus Sphinx Linnaeus united the true Sj^hingidae with forms which do not belong here, e. g. the Zy- 

 gaenids and Aegeriids, and only in quite recent times has one abandoned the old idea that there is a close con- 

 nection between Linnaeus's true and false Sphingidae ("Sphinges legitimae, Sphinges adscitae"). In reality 

 there is indeed no close relationship between the Sphingids and the "adscitae" (the Zygaenids, etc.), but the 

 Hawkmoths have their natural place in a group of families to which the Notodontids, Bombycids, Saturnids, 

 etc., belong. In this group the Sphingids are always distinguishable by the venation, and their general ap- 

 pearance is also so characteristic that only a few species were placed in other families by their first describer (e. g." 

 the African species Polyptychus mutata Walk., and the Australian Hopliocnema brachycera Lower). However, 

 the facies is deceptive, and formerly many Notodontids were placed with the Hawkmoths on account of their 

 narrow wings and long conical body. The early stages of the Sphingids usually also have a characteristic shape, 

 especially the horn of segment 11 so seldom appears in other forms that Moore was led to describe a small 

 broad- winged Bombycid as a Sphingid on account of the tailed larva, in which family it still stands in Kirby's 

 Catalogue (Sorocaba anomala). 



In consequence of an often very far-reaching modification and reduction of organs many species 

 differ considerably from the generally known Sphingid type, as represented for instance by Herse convolvuli 

 or Celeiio evphorbiae, be it as larva, pupa or moth ; but the following characters are common to all species of 

 Hawkmoths. 



Ocelli and areole abocnt. Abdomen of (^ laterally on segment 2 above the sternite with a groove from 

 which a tuft of hair can be extended (scent-organ). Fore tibia with spur on the inner side. Subcostal 1, 2 and 

 3 of forewing from the cell, 2 and 3 being on a long stalk, 2 often slightly developed and frequently entirely 

 absent, 3 terminating in the costal margin shortly before the apex, subcostals 4 and 5 also stalked, the stalk 

 about half as long as the two branches of the fork, radial 1 from the upper angle of the cell or shortly stalked 

 with the subcostal branches 4 and 5. radial 2 (= vein 5) close before the middle of the apex of the cell, never 

 before the middle and never near the lower angle of the cell; submedian 1 absent, 2 and 3 united, forming 

 a fork at the base; upper angle of cell always more distal than the lower. In the hindwing the costal and sub- 

 costal separate from the base, but connected with one another about the middle by an oblique vein (subcostal 1), 

 the costal also closely approaches the subcostal distally of the apex of the cell, subcostal and radial 1 close 

 together or on a stalk, radial 2 (= vein 5) near centre of apex of cell, submedian 1 absent, 2 and 3 present. 



The family is distributed over the entire globe with the exception of the extreme northern and southern 

 districts, and most richly developed in the Tropics. We now know about 850 species (not counting the geo- 

 graphical forms, which are reckoned as species by some authors), and of these scarcely 30 have been found 

 in Europe, 23 in Central Europe and 17 in England, among which there are even several species which are only 

 occasional visiters. This small number of species indigenous in our countries is such an insignificant fraction 

 of the whole family that it does not give us a true picture of the development of the Sphingids. 



The smallest species is found in Madagascar, {Sjphingonaepiopsis obscurus Mob., body 12, forewing 

 10 mm. long), and the largest in America (Cocytius antaeus, body 80 and forewing 90 mm long). We find also 

 iji the development of the different organs the same contrast as these two genera show in size, if the entire fa- 

 mily is taken into consideration, as a short survey of the variation of the organs will show. 



The tongue is usually longer than the body, and in Cocytius antaeiis atta,ms a length of 250 mm. and 

 in Xanthopan morgani (Africa) 225 mm., measurements not reached by any other insect. On the other hand, 

 we also meet with a large number of species the tongue of which is more or less strongly reduced and functionless, 

 and in which it is sometimes only represented by very short lobes. In some species it is hairy, in others naked. 

 The labial palpi are large in typical forms and lie close to the head; segment 2 is broad and 3 quite small; 

 but there are also very much reduced, much lengthened and divergent palpi, and some with hornlike naked 

 third segment. The antennae, generally described as prismatic, have this shape in many species, especially 

 in the (J; in such antennae the sides of each segment are concave, and around this groove there is a wreath 

 of long thin hairs united in tufts (cilia). The upper edge of the groove is produced into a tooth or a more or less 

 long process in many (JcJ, rarely in $$ (pectinate antennae, e. g. in Ceridia); or the anterior and posterior 

 margins may be produced into a long process each, so that we have cpiadripectinate antennae (Cressonia, Monar- 

 da). In most species the antennae are filiform or setiform; in a great many others, however, distinctly or 

 even strongly clavate, and as a rule they end in a hook. In all S3 with the exception of Rhopalopsyche they 

 bear the afore-mentioned long cilia, which also occur in many $9. Jjut are here shortened. Head and thorax 

 often bear a high crest, sometimes double. Very characteristic of the Sphingidae are the spines of the abdomen. 



