Pine Hawk-moth
Sphinx pinastri
This record describes Sphinx pinastri (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 65-80 mm. A fairly nondescript member of the hawk-moths, the greyish brown wings usually have three or four dark streaks in the centre. It inhabits coniferous woodland and areas where Scots Pine is present. It flies in a single generation from May to early August. The larva, which is rather more colourful than the moth, feeds on the needles of Scots Pine British records are mainly from England, and predominantly from an area South of the Humber - particularly towards the Eastern side of that area. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Sphinx pinastri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx pinastri.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sphinginae
- Tribe
- Sphingini
- Genus
- Sphinx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits coniferous woodland and areas where Scots Pine is present.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in a single generation from May to early August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva, which is rather more colourful than the moth, feeds on the needles of Scots Pine
Additional species information
Recorded status
British records are mainly from England, and predominantly from an area South of the Humber - particularly towards the Eastern side of that area. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sphinx pinastri. 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 Pine Hawk-moth (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pine Hawk-moth
What is Pine Hawk-moth?
Pine Hawk-moth (Sphinx pinastri) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pine Hawk-moth found?
Habitat: It inhabits coniferous woodland and areas where Scots Pine is present.
When is Pine Hawk-moth active?
Pine Hawk-moth: seasonal activity - It flies in a single generation from May to early August..
What is the life cycle of a Pine Hawk-moth?
The larva, which is rather more colourful than the moth, feeds on the needles of Scots Pine