Walnut sphinx

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Tribe: Mimatini
Genus: Amorpha
J. Hübner, 1809
Species:
A. juglandis
Binomial name
Amorpha juglandis
Synonyms
  • Generic
    • Cressonia Grote & Robinson, 1865
  • Specific
    • Sphinx juglandis J. E. Smith, 1797
    • Cressonia juglandis
    • Laothoe juglandis
    • Sphinx instibilis Martyn, 1797
    • Cressonia hyperbola Slosson, 1890
    • Cressonia robinsonii Butler, 1876
    • Smerinthus pallens Strecker, 1873
    • Cressonia juglandis alpina Clark, 1927
    • Cressonia juglandis manitobae Clark, 1930

Amorpha juglandis, the walnut sphinx, is the only species in the monotypic moth genus Amorpha, which is in the family Sphingidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1809. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797.

Distribution

It is native to North America, where it is distributed from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the United States.

Description

The wingspan is 45–75 mm.

Biology

The adult moth is nocturnal, active mainly during the early hours of the night.

The caterpillar feeds on alder (Alnus), hickory (Carya), hazelnut (Corylus), beech (Fagus), walnut (Juglans), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya) species. When attacked by a bird, the caterpillar produces a high-pitched whistle by expelling air from pair of spiracles in its abdomen. This antipredator adaptation may startle the bird, which may then reject the caterpillar.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  2. ↑ Fullard, James H.; Napoleone, Nadia (2001). "Diel flight periodicity and the evolution of auditory defences in the Macrolepidoptera". Animal Behaviour. 62 (2): 349. doi:10.1006/anbe.2001.1753. S2CID 53182157.
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