Hyles euphorbiae

Hyles euphorbiae (Hyles euphorbiae)

Phylum — arthropoda
Class — insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family — sphingidae

Genus – hyles

Appearance

The caterpillar is smooth and black, with innumerable whitish dots; there are also eleven large spots of the same color arrayed in a row on each side of the back, and beneath these as many spots of the same size and of a bright coral-red color; the head is of the same coral-red color, and a line of the same color runs all along the back, from the head to the horn; the horn is red at the base and black at the tip.

Forewing upperside is pale yellow-gray to lavender-gray, with a dark brown spot at the center of the costa and at the wing base, and a dark brown band running from the wing tip to the inner margin. The costal and outer margins may be dusted with pink or gray. Hindwing upperside is black with a pale greenish outer margin and a pinkish brown median band which becomes white at the inner margin. Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 1/16 inches (6.4 - 7.7 cm).

Habitat

It lives in Europe and Asia Minor.

Behavior

The activity of the insects takes place at twilight. Butterflies and caterpillars are poisonous.

There are one or two generations per year, with soil-inhabiting pupae as the overwintering stage.

Diet

Caterpillar hosts – various species of Euphorbia in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).

Butterflies feed on nectar, hovering in front of the flower in a fluttering flight.

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 50 x 50 x 70 cm. Females lay eggs in groups of up to 5 on the leaves of the forage plant. The eggs are covered with liquid gum, which enables them to stick on the small leaves of the spurge. Eggs are light green and rounded. It is better to keep the caterpillars in mesh terrariums for 6-8 insects. In the terrarium, you need to put a pot of milkweed. Insects should be kept at the room temperature and humidity of 40-60%. Older caterpillars should be placed on the bottom of the wet substrate with a layer of 8-10 cm, because pupation occurs underground. Pupae are brown. The pupal stage lasts 3 weeks. If it is necessary, the pupae can be placed in the refrigerator immediately after pupation, this will delay the hatching of the butterflies.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies.

Room temperature is necessary. Daylight time is 12 hours. You can feed butterflies with honey syrup diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10. It is better to pour the syrup into a white container and put it on a raised platform.