Polyptychus baxteri

Polyptychus baxteri is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is known from eastern and western Africa.

Polyptychus baxteri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Polyptychus
Species:
P. baxteri
Binomial name
Polyptychus baxteri

The length of the forewings is 26 mm for males, females are somewhat larger. The body and forewings are greyish purple. There is a dark median streak on the head and thorax and a dark streak from the costa (near the base) to the tornus, widening at the tornus. The hindwings are pinker, specially near the base. The inner marginal streak and tornal spots are variable and sometimes almost absent.[1]

The larvae feed on Thespesia species.

Subspecies

  • Polyptychus baxteri baxteri (Braehystegia savanna and woodland in Tanzania and Zambia)
  • Polyptychus baxteri jansei Clark, 1936 (Zimbabwe and western Mozambique)

References

  1. Carcasson, R. H. (1967). "Revised Catalogue of the African Sphingidae (Lepidoptera) with Descriptions of the East African species". Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum. 26 (3): 1–173 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.


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