Agrius convolvuli - night action

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:14 am

Agrius convolvuli (not Hyles euphorbiae euphorbiae as I was hastily mentioned at first, sorry, my apologize) - moth in night action!

Camera model Olympus SP-320
Date/time 23.08.2006/19:53:47
Exposure time 1/30 s
F-number f/2.8
ISO 200
Focal length 8 mm
Handheld
Built-in flash

Camera model Olympus SP-320
Date/time 23.08.2006/20:06:17
Exposure time 1/30 s
F-number f/2.8
ISO 200
Focal length 8 mm
Handheld
Built-in flash

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:52 am

Great pictures, Nikola -- and what looks to be a lovely spot to spend an evening!

But you should re-check the ID. These are definitely some kind of sphinx moths, but the markings are completely different from Hyles euphorbiae, which is brownish, with coarse markings on the forewing, a large pink patch on the hind wing, and no pink spots on the abdomen. Do a Google image search and you'll see what I mean -- or look at the adult in your own earlier posting. The pattern and coloration of what you have here is probably distinctive if you can find a reference on European sphinx moths. There's nothing that looks quite like them in my copy of "The Moths of America North of Mexico (Fascicle 21, Sphingoidea)". The markings are somewhat similar to Agrius cingulatus (but that one has stripes and pink on the hind wing too) and Manduca quinquemaculata (which has yellow spots on the abdomen, not pink), if those names are any help in your searching.

--Rik

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:08 pm

Huhhh Huhhh... I think you are right Rik!

Seems there are at least three kind of sphinx moths on my little isle (Hyles euphorbiae euphorbiae, Macroglossum stellatarum and this one).

I must correct myself: this is Agrius convolvuli. Need to find where caterpillar of him is hiding.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:01 pm

Bingo! And a great reference you found -- I have never before seen a pupa with U-shaped proboscis case. Thanks!

--Rik

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:21 pm

Beautiful photos Nikola...you just keep on getting those great shots...and the moths are very special " I can see you smiling Nikola"

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:47 pm

beetleman wrote:Beautiful photos Nikola...you just keep on getting those great shots...and the moths are very special " I can see you smiling Nikola"

Thank you Doug. You guessed, I'm smiling.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:35 pm

By the way, anybody who is not familiar with these moths should look closely at the pictures to pick out the very extended proboscis.

I was thinking about 5 inches long based on these pictures and other sphinx moths I've known, and I see that the reference Nikola provides says the same thing -- "up to 130 mm".

Longer than the wingspan, and waaay longer than the body -- now that's a drinking straw!

--Rik

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:01 pm

I'm wondering about sharpness of the wings with only 1/30 s exposure time?

Paralyzing impact of flash lightning maybe?

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:12 pm

Yes, it's because of flash. During most of that 1/30 second the shutter was open, there was not enough light to make an image. The whole picture comes from the 1/1000 second (or less!) that the flash lasted.

--Rik

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:22 pm

Oh yes of course!

Flash was in role of shutter

I do not use flash often, so I did not have it in mind.