Hummingbird Hawk-Moth - Macroglossum stellatarum L.
This butterfly has relatively narrow and long forewings. The abdomen is thick, with antennae of a spindle shape. The forewings are brown with dark transverse lines, and the hindwings are orange-yellow. The body is covered with grayish hairs on top, and the end of the abdomen, which has white spots on the sides, tapers into a brush-like shape.
These butterflies are found throughout the summer and autumn. They usually fly during the day in sunny weather. The hummingbird hawk-moth does not land on flowers but hovers in the air above them for a long time, sucking nectar with its very long proboscis — hence the name "hummingbird." At the slightest danger, hummingbird hawk-moths instantly disappear from sight, as they are known for their rapid flight. Like most hawk-moths, they are the best fliers among all butterflies; they can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. When their wings are spread, they resemble a jet plane.
Their flight is accompanied by a low humming sound, which occurs because these butterflies flap their wings very frequently — up to 50 times per second. Hummingbird hawk-moths can cover great distances — up to several hundred kilometers.
The population fluctuates significantly from year to year. In favorable years, it can be quite high (common). In some years, it is rare.
The general trends in the population changes of hummingbird hawk-moths are not known.
The caterpillars range from yellow-green to brown-red, with white slightly raised dot-like tubercles, and white, yellow (above the legs), or reddish longitudinal lines and black spiracles. The head is rounded. At the end of the body, there is an almost straight bluish horn with a brown tip; before pupation, the caterpillar turns red. The pupa is light, more or less brownish-gray or bluish-green, with the proboscis sheath fused and projecting in a keel-like manner. They mainly live on bedstraw. The colorful caterpillars are inconspicuous against the background of plants. When disturbed, the caterpillar inflates the front part of its body and, raising it, freezes in a "sphinx pose," a behavior shared by many other species of hawk-moths; hence the Latin name — Sphingidae. In Ancient Greek mythology, the sphinx is a monster with a beautiful female face and the body of a lioness.
Distribution: throughout Kyrgyzstan, except for the Alai Valley.
INSECTS OF KYRGYZSTAN
