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.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acherontia
Source Wikidata: Hemaris thysbe
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Macroglossum stellatarum
Source Wikidata: Pseudosphinx tetrio
Source Tobacco Hornworm (Wikidata)
Source Manduca quinquemaculata (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Sphingidae (Wikipedia)Distribution: TropicsQuote, 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 Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Sphingidae
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 1602
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Sphingidae
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Sphingidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 20.45 ... "early_interval": "Burdigalian"
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), IntroductionQuote, 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.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Macroglossum stellatarum
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyParent Taxon Of: Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Taxon recordQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), Taxon record
"family": "Sphingidae"
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acherontia
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyParent Taxon Of: Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia), Taxon recordQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia), Taxon record
"family": "Sphingidae"
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