Galium Sphinx Moth
Hyles gallii
This record describes Hyles gallii (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Hyles gallii: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyles gallii.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Macroglossinae
- Tribe
- Macroglossini
- Genus
- Hyles
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
An immigrant species, normally found at coastal localities, attracted to light, but does turn up inland.
Seasonal Activity
May to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The attractive caterpillars are dark green or brownish with bright yellow spots. In some years there are reasonable influxes, and subsequently larvae can be found in some areas, feeding on bedstraw and willowherb.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread but uncommon immigrant species. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hyles gallii. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Galium Sphinx Moth (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Galium Sphinx Moth
How big is Galium Sphinx Moth?
38mm to 50mm (1.49" to 1.96")
Where is Galium Sphinx Moth found?
Habitat: An immigrant species, normally found at coastal localities, attracted to light, but does turn up inland.
When is Galium Sphinx Moth active?
Galium Sphinx Moth: seasonal activity - May to August..
What is the life cycle of a Galium Sphinx Moth?
The attractive caterpillars are dark green or brownish with bright yellow spots. In some years there are reasonable influxes, and subsequently larvae can be found in some areas, feeding on bedstraw and willowherb.