AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



471 



Sphenodesma continued. 

 S. Jacklana (Jack's). A synonym of S. pentandra. 

 S. pentandra (flve-anthered). fl. six in a head ; corolla purple, 



the tube equalling the calyx, 



the tube equalling the calyx, the throat white and very hairy ; 

 panicle ample, leaty below ; peduncles filiform. June. I. shortly 

 petiolate, oblong, obtuse at base, attenuated-acuminate, highly 



flabrous and shining above, pubescent beneath, h. 6ft. East 

 ndia, 1823. SYN. S. Jaekiana. 



SPHENOGYNE. Included under Ursinia (which see). 

 SPHENOTOMA. Included under Dracophyllum 



(which see). 



SPHEROIDAL. Approaching a sphere in shape. 



SPHINOID.2E (Hawk Moths). A family of Moths of 

 very distinct and striking aspect, characterised by the 

 thick, heavy body, and long, pointed winga, which are 

 moved by powerful muscles. This allows of very rapid 

 flight, except in a few (Smerinthus), in which the wings 

 are broader, but weaker, and flight is slow and heavy. 

 The moths are large, certain species, e.g., Death's Head 

 Moths, being among the largest of British insects. The 

 antenna are usually thicker in the middle, and end in a 

 hooked bristle. The larvae are generally peculiar in form, 

 being rather thick, tapering from a little in front of the 

 middle towards the head, but cut off abruptly behind, 

 where a curved "horn" is present just above the blunt 

 hinder end. Most of the larvae are ornamented with 

 seven oblique coloured lines on the sides. Those of 

 several species have a habit of drawing back the head 

 into the segments just behind it, and assume an attitude 

 fancifully supposed to resemble the Egyptian Sphinx; 

 and from this habit the family name has been derived. 

 The popular name of " Hawk Moths " refers to their swift- 

 ness of flight. They mostly fly in the dusk of evening 

 and of early morning ; but one, the Humming Bird Moth, 

 flies by day. Several of the species feed, as larvae, upon 

 garden produce, or on bushes and trees. Acherontia 

 Atropos (formerly called Sphinx Atropos), the Death's 



FIG. 512. DEATH'S HEAD HAWK MOTH (Aeherontia Atropos). 



Head Hawk Moth (see Fig. 512), feeds almost entirely on 

 Potatoes (see remarks on INSECTS, under Potato), less 

 often on Jasmine and the Tea-tree ; but the larva, though 

 very large, is not often seen, because of its habit of 

 feeding only in darkness, concealing itself in the soil by 

 day. 



The Hawk Moths that feed on cultivated trees and 

 shrubs are the following : The Eyed Hawk Moth (Smerin- 

 thus ocellatus), on Apple and other fruit-trees, as well 

 as on Willows, Poplars, &c. The moth reaches about 

 Sin. in spread of wings, and is easily known by the 



Sphingidra continued. 



rosy-brown wings, clouded with olive-brown markings, 

 and especially by a large, bluish, eye-like spot on each 

 hind wing near the hind angle. The larva is green, 

 with a blue horn; the seven oblique stripes on each 

 side are white, edged with dark green above. The 

 Poplar Hawk Moth (8. Populi) lives on Poplars and 

 Willows, and on Laurel and Laurustinus. The moth 

 reaches about Sin. across the wings, which are grey, 

 with darker bands and a white dot in the middle of 

 each fore wing, and a red patch at the base of each 

 hind wing. The larva is green, sprinkled with yellow; 

 the horn is yellow above, redder beneath; and the 

 oblique stripes on the sides are yellow. This insect is 

 the most plentiful of the family. The Lime Hawk 

 Moth (S. Tilice) is less common. The moth reaches 

 from 2iin. to Sin. across the wings. The fore wings have 

 the outer edge a good deal indented; they are pale 

 reddish or olive-brown, with a broad, greenish outer 

 border, and a dark olive-green band across the middle, 

 often broken so as to form two spots. The hind wings 

 are blackish at the base, brown elsewhere, with a darker 

 band across each. The larva feeds on Limes and Elm- 

 trees. It is green, sprinkled with yellow dots, and the 

 oblique stripes are yellowish, sometimes edged with red ; 

 the horn is blue above, yellow beneath, and behind it is 

 a flat, purple scale edged with orange. The Privet Hawk 

 Moth (Sphinx Ligustri) feeds on Privet and Lilac, and 

 is common in the southern counties of England. The 

 fore wings often exceed 4in. in spread, and are more 

 pointed and narrower than in those insects already men- 

 tioned; they are pale brown, clouded with darker brown, 

 and streaked with black ; the hind wings are rosy -red, 

 with three black cross-bars. The larva is bright green ; 

 the horn is black above and at the tip, and yellow 

 beneath ; the oblique streaks on the sides are white 

 behind, delicate purple in front ; the skin is smooth. The 

 large Elephant Hawk Moth (Chcero- 

 campa elpenor) feeds on Willowherb, 

 Fuchsia, and Vine. The moth reaches 

 2iin. in spread of the fore wings, 

 which are pointed, and are olive-green, 

 with pink outer and front margins, 

 and two pink, oblique cross-bars; the 

 base of each hind wing is black, and 

 the rest of it pink. The larva is green, 

 dark grey, or brown, with black mot- 

 tlings. On each side of the fifth and 

 sixth rings of the body is a large black 

 patch, inclosing a white, kidney-shaped 

 spot, the whole resembling an eye. 

 The horn is short and black, with the 

 tip white ; the front rings of the 

 body are narrowed and retractile, and 

 when they are retracted the form of 

 the larva has been fancifully compared 

 to an elephant's head, the spots men- 

 tioned above resembling the eyes. This 

 moth is common in many places. 



Remedies. The only remedy neces- 

 sary is hand-picking the larvae, if they 

 become so numerous as to require it. 

 Their large size renders them easily 

 seen, though their colours usually 

 assimilate well with those of their food -plants. The 

 larvae of A. Atropos require to be looked for with a 

 lantern at night, as they hide in the soil by day. The 

 larvae of almost all the Hawk Moths go underground to 

 become pupae, and little can be done to diminish the 

 number of pupae, or of perfect insects. The pupae of 

 A. Atropos are occasionally found when Potatoes are 

 being harvested in gardens and in fields. 



SPHINX ATROPOS. See Sphingidse. 



SPICATE. Resembling a spike ; disposed in spikes. 



