Hyles livornicoides

Hyles livornicoides
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Hyles
Species:	H. livornicoides
Binomial name
	Hyles livornicoides; (Lucas, 1892)
Synonyms
	Deilephila livornicoides T. P. Lucas. 1892; Hyles linearis T. P. Lucas, 1892; Phryxus australasiae Tutt, 1904;

Hyles livornicoides, the Australian striped hawk moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae first described by Lucas in 1892. The larvae are known by the common name Yeperenye caterpillar, in the Arrernte language the caterpillars are referred to as Ayepe-arenye.

Distribution

It is found in Australia in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

Description

The wingspan is about 60 mm.

Male dorsal view
Male ventral view
Caterpillar

Biology

The larvae feed on Portulaca oleracea, Boerhavia diffusa, Boerhavia schomburgkiana, Vitis vinifera and Tribulus terrestris. They are gregarious and live in dense colonies.

Human interactions

H. livornicoides was considered by the Arrernte people to be the most important ancestral being, along with the Ntyarlke and Utnerrengatye caterpillars. The caterpillar in the Arrernte language is known as Ayepe-arenye, referring to the ayepe (tar-vine) that they feed on.^[2]

References

^ "Sphingidae Taxonomic Inventory: Hyles livornicoides". sphingidae.myspecies.info. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^ Walsh, Fiona (13 February 2017). "Box BIO11 Caterpillars as big as a mountain: the role of spiritual beliefs about animals and plants". Australia State of the Environment Report. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2021.

External links

Australian Faunal Directory
Herbison-Evans, Don & Crossley, Stella (6 April 2016). "Hyles livornicoides (T.P. Lucas, 1892) Australian Striped Hawk Moth". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
"CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience – Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2011.

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[1] "Sphingidae Taxonomic Inventory: Hyles livornicoides". sphingidae.myspecies.info. Retrieved 24 June 2023.

[2] Walsh, Fiona (13 February 2017). "Box BIO11 Caterpillars as big as a mountain: the role of spiritual beliefs about animals and plants". Australia State of the Environment Report. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2021.

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