Cizara ardeniae
Encyclopedia
The Coprosma Hawk Moth (Cizara ardeniae) is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from the eastern coastal region of Australia
and New Zealand
.
The wingspan
is about 60 mm. Adults are dark brown, with white edges to the wings and white bars across the wings and abdomen. The ends of the white bar show as transparent windows on the wings. In resting position, these bars are aligned on each side to form a single stripe. The underside has tufts of bright red hair.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on various Rubiaceae
species, including Coprosma repens
, Coprosma quadrifida
, Coprosma lucida and Myrmecodia beccarii
. Early instars are translucent green with a black horn on the tail and a yellowish head. Later instars are opaque green with two yellow stripes running along the length of the body and a blue head. The tail horn becomes blue. When disturbed, it lashes its head violently from side to side. In the last instar, the coloration changes to diagonal patches of light and dark brown. Pupation takes place on the soil surface under a mat of felt that the larva spins amongst dead leaves.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...
family. It is known from the eastern coastal region of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is about 60 mm. Adults are dark brown, with white edges to the wings and white bars across the wings and abdomen. The ends of the white bar show as transparent windows on the wings. In resting position, these bars are aligned on each side to form a single stripe. The underside has tufts of bright red hair.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on various Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
species, including Coprosma repens
Coprosma repens
Coprosma repens is a shrub or small tree that is native to New Zealand. Common names include Taupata, Mirror Bush, Looking-glass Bush, New Zealand Laurel and Shiny Leaf.-Description:...
, Coprosma quadrifida
Coprosma quadrifida
Coprosma quadrifida is a shrub of the Rubiaceae family native to southestern Australia. First described as Canthium quadrifidum by Labillardiere, it was given its current name by B. L. Robinson in 1910....
, Coprosma lucida and Myrmecodia beccarii
Myrmecodia beccarii
Myrmecodia beccarii, Ant-house Plant, is an epiphytic plant on Melaleuca trees and others with spongy bark in the wetlands and mangroves of tropical north Queensland, Australia from Cooktown to Mission Beach. The prickly, swollen stems develop natural hollows which are invaded by the Golden Ant in...
. Early instars are translucent green with a black horn on the tail and a yellowish head. Later instars are opaque green with two yellow stripes running along the length of the body and a blue head. The tail horn becomes blue. When disturbed, it lashes its head violently from side to side. In the last instar, the coloration changes to diagonal patches of light and dark brown. Pupation takes place on the soil surface under a mat of felt that the larva spins amongst dead leaves.