by A.R. Pittaway
Note:The Oriental speciesAmbulyx lahora (Butler, [1875]) has been collected once in eastern Afghanistan (Bashgal Kamu, Nuristan, 15.iv.1971, leg. C. Naumann). This is outside the range of this work.
Note:The Afrotropical speciesHippotion balsaminae (Walker, 1856) has been recorded from the Hoggar Mountains of southern Algeria (Eitschberger, Mooser & Müller, 2014). This is outside the range of this work.
This work is a detailed study of the species and subspecies ofSphingidae that occur regularly within the zoogeographical boundaries of thewestern Palaearctic region, with particular emphasis on theirecology and dynamicbiogeography: notes on theirmorphology andtaxonomy are also provided. TheHyles euphorbiae 'complex' is analysed in more detail with regard to ecological and biological factors. With about 71 percent of the region's sphingid taxa being endemic, the treatment of the western Palaearctic as a distinct sub-region of the Holarctic is justified. The zoological and botanical delimitation of the sub-region is given and a smallgazetteer is provided.
The four main published sources of information for this web site were/are:
PITTAWAY, A. R. (1993).The hawkmoths of the western Palaearctic, 240pp., 13 pls. London & Colchester, UK: Harley Books.
PITTAWAY, A. R. (1995).Sphingidae of the western Palaearctic: their ecology and biogeography. PhD Thesis, Imperial College, University of London, UK.
KITCHING, I. J. & CADIOU, J.-M. (2000).Hawkmoths of the world; an annotated and illustrated revisionary checklist (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), x + 227pp., 8 pls. Ithaca & London, USA & UK: Cornell University Press.
KITCHING, I. J. (2019).Sphingidae Taxonomic Inventory --- STI. London, UK: NHMUK.
Many references were consulted in the preparation of this work; these are listed in thereference section. Additionally, this work would have been difficult to produce without the help, advice and guidance received from many people in many ways. These are acknowledged in theacknowledgements section.
Find out what's been added or changed.
A list of internet sites dealing with Sphingidae and Lepidoptera in general.
Sphinx franckii Neumoegen, 1893 -- Franck's Sphinx.
Sphinx perelegans Henry Edwards, 1874 -- Elegant Sphinx.
© A.R. Pittaway. No part of this work may be used for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author; however, any part may be used for research or other non-commercial purposes without prior permission. Please note that illustrations provided by authors other than Tony Pittaway remain the copyright of those authors and should not be reproduced other than with their permission.
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This reference can be quoted in publications as: Pittaway, A.R. (2025).Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic (including Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, western Siberia and western Central Asia). https://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/list.htm. [Site accessed: ]