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Taxa

Sphingidae

Insect Families

Sphingidae is a family of moths commonly called sphinx moths or hawk moths, with caterpillars known as hornworms, comprising about 1,450 species in roughly 200 genera found worldwide and best represented in the tropics. Adults are moderate to large, with narrow wings and streamlined bodies suited to fast, sustained flight, and several species, including the hummingbird hawk-moth, hover at flowers to feed on nectar in a manner easily mistaken for a hummingbird, an example of convergent evolution shared with only a few other nectar feeding groups. Many sphingids have some of the longest proboscides of any insect, letting them reach nectar in flowers with deep corolla tubes other pollinators cannot access. The family was formally established by the French zoologist Pierre Andre Latreille in 1802. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Taxonomic Rank
Family 2
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia), Species
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acherontia
Hemaris thysbe, Species
Source Wikidata: Hemaris thysbe
Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Species
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Macroglossum stellatarum
Pseudosphinx tetrio, Species
Source Wikidata: Pseudosphinx tetrio
Tobacco Hornworm, Species
Source Tobacco Hornworm (Wikidata)
Tomato Hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata), Species
Source Manduca quinquemaculata (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Tropics

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Sphingidae (Wikipedia)Distribution: Tropics
Quote, Distribution: Tropics
It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ157683, descriptionView the Source
2. Sphingidae (Wikipedia)
  • Introduction
    The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths; many of their caterpillars are known as hornworms.
  • Taxonomic rank (structure-wave classification, ruling 761/926)
  • In Group: Moth Families, Lead
    The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths; many of their caterpillars are known as hornworms.
View the Source
Wikidata: Sphingidae
Wikidata Q157683, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Tobacco Hornworm (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Tobacco Hornworm, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: Pseudosphinx tetrio
Parent Taxon Of: Pseudosphinx tetrio, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: Hemaris thysbe
Parent Taxon Of: Hemaris thysbe, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Manduca quinquemaculata (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Tomato Hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata), Introduction
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Tomato Hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata), Introduction
Manduca quinquemaculata, the five-spotted hawkmoth, is a brown and gray hawk moth of the family Sphingidae.
View the Source
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Macroglossum stellatarum
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyParent Taxon Of: Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Taxon record
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Taxon record
"family": "Sphingidae"
View the Source
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acherontia
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyParent Taxon Of: Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia), Taxon record
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia), Taxon record
"family": "Sphingidae"
View the Source
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