Nature is a great inventor. And when creating the nocturnal butterfly Daphnis nerii (oleander hawk), she also proved herself to be a talented artist. This butterfly can rightly be called the most beautiful of all twilight and nocturnal insects.
Family of Brazhniki: general information
The family of hawks includes a whole list of twilight and nocturnal insects. These are butterflies (photo above) of large and medium size, with a large pointed body. All of them have extended wings, the span of which can vary from 30 to 175 mm.
The caterpillars of hawks are bright and large. They grow and develop on trees and shrubs, although some species of hawks prefer grassy vegetation. Within the species, each caterpillar has a narrow food selectivity, which means that several related plants are suitable for a particular species. Deviations from this rule are rare. Polyphagous hawks almost never occur.
The vast family includes two butterflies, leading the morning and afternoon lifestyle.
The list of the family consists of almost 1200 species and subfamilies. The most famous are:
- Poplar shingles, ocular shingles; Amur hawthorn, blind hawthorn belonging to the subfamily Smerinthinae.
- Lilac, pine, bindweed brazhniki, a dead head - a subfamily of the sphinx.
- Oleander hawk; bumblebee (daytime species), proserpine, bog-roach, southern euphorbiaceae, lazian - subfamily Long-lingual.
This is a very small part of the list, but it can be used to judge species diversity within the family.
Oleander Brazhnik: acquaintance
It’s very difficult to enjoy the beauty of this butterfly. Nature has come up with the perfect disguise for her wonderful creation. Oleander hawk - a fairly large moth with a large wingspan. The front wings of the insect have a size of up to 52 mm. In the range they can be up to 125 mm. The front wings are painted with whitish and pink wavy stripes. The inner corner of the front wings is decorated with a large purple elongated spot.
The hind wings of the insect resemble the work of an unknown artist. From the base to the middle they are painted in blackish shades, and from the center to the edge - in greenish-brown colors. The butterfly (photo below) has color zones separated by a white stripe.
The body of the oleander beauty is elongated, sharply tapering to the back. The chest is gray-green. Abdomen has a pleasant olive color. The first segments of the abdomen are surrounded by a border of white hairs. Further on each side are beveled olive stripes.
Where does this species of butterflies occur?
An unusual nocturnal butterfly is not found very often. Yes, and not everyone can see it in the foliage of an oleander. Oleander hawthorn belongs to migratory butterflies. The main places of residence are Africa and the Middle East. If a warm year is given out, then the insect can be found in Central Europe.
It is found in the post-Soviet space in Transcaucasia, the North Caucasus, the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Azov. Most often, oleander hawthorn catches your eye on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea. Sometimes a beautiful butterfly can also be seen in Moldova, Crimea and Turkmenistan. The hawker does not fly into cooler areas, since it is physiologically incapable of resisting cold winters.
What does a caterpillar look like?
Like other members of the family, the caterpillar of the oleander hawthorn is large and brightly colored. It can be green or yellowish. The main decorations are dark spots on both sides of the third segment. From a distance, they look like eyes, because the spot itself is blue or black, and in its center is a white dot. Behind the third segment, a bright longitudinal stripe begins. The caterpillar has a short and flattened tail horn.
The caterpillar passes into the pupal stage on the ground at the roots of the oleander. The cocoon weaves fragments of leaves of this plant. The pupa itself is brown and elongated. Each spiracle is decorated with a black speck on both sides.
Taste preferences
If you were lucky in a warm climate in the evening to see a butterfly in "camouflage haute couture", then it may be oleander hawk. What does this beauty eat? Like most hawk moths, the oleander species has nutritional selectivity.
The basis of caterpillar nutrition is periwinkle and oleander. Despite the fact that both of these plants are poisonous, the caterpillar itself does not accumulate dangerous substances, this makes it completely defenseless. In some regions, an insect can feed on grape leaves, but this does not occur often.
It is interesting
But is there anything else unusual, besides the “designer” coloring, in the butterfly an oleander hawthorn? Interesting facts were revealed by entomologists during the observation process:
- All hawks, and the oleander look is no exception, do not sit on flowers during feeding. They hover over them, quickly fingering their wings. From the side it may seem that a hummingbird flutters above the flower. But hawks and hummingbirds do not have related intersections, just these species are an example of convergent evolution.
- Oleander hawk can migrate over long distances. This contributes to the ability to develop great speed in flight. This type of butterfly is considered the fastest among lepidopteran insects, their speed can reach 50 km / h.
- Oleander hawthorn is able to quickly pollinate a large number of flowers. This is due to the ability to move quickly and the presence of a long proboscis.
- A rare species of butterflies, oleander hawk, was listed in the Red Book of the USSR.
To maintain the population and preserve the species, scientists recommend growing oleander plantings in resort areas in order to attract oleander hawthorn and create conditions for reproduction.