Gnathothlibus australiensis
Encyclopedia
Gnathothlibus australiensis is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from the Northern Territory
and Queensland
.
The length of the forewings is 33-38 mm. It is similar to Gnathothlibus eras
but differs in its smaller size and the complete absence of any long hair scales on the foretarsi and a clear reduction in length and thickness of long hair scales covering the foretibiae in males. It differs from Gnathothlibus vanuatuensis
in smaller size and more unicolorous appearance. The head and thorax are dorsally medium brown, the abdomen is slightly lighter brown and there is a small dark median spot on the prothorax. The thorax has a ventral whitish patch immediately posterior to labial palps, the remainder is light creamy-brown. The underside of the abdomen is light pinkish-brown, with three or four lateral tiny black spots surrounded by white. The ground colour of the forewing upperside is brown, with faint darker markings. The small black discal spot with lighter centre is barely visible. The forewing underside is yellow-brown in the basal half and without markings. It is brown distally and slightly speckled with dark brown. The hindwing upperside is orange with a thin dark brown marginal band. The hindwing underside is orange-brown and heavily speckled with dark brown.
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 Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
The length of the forewings is 33-38 mm. It is similar to Gnathothlibus eras
Gnathothlibus eras
Gnathothlibus eras is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from the eastern Sunda Islands , Sulawesi, the Moluccas, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Micronesia and eastern Australia....
but differs in its smaller size and the complete absence of any long hair scales on the foretarsi and a clear reduction in length and thickness of long hair scales covering the foretibiae in males. It differs from Gnathothlibus vanuatuensis
Gnathothlibus vanuatuensis
Gnathothlibus vanuatuensis is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Vanuatu.The length of the forewings is 37.5-44.3 mm for males and 39.5-40.7 mm for females...
in smaller size and more unicolorous appearance. The head and thorax are dorsally medium brown, the abdomen is slightly lighter brown and there is a small dark median spot on the prothorax. The thorax has a ventral whitish patch immediately posterior to labial palps, the remainder is light creamy-brown. The underside of the abdomen is light pinkish-brown, with three or four lateral tiny black spots surrounded by white. The ground colour of the forewing upperside is brown, with faint darker markings. The small black discal spot with lighter centre is barely visible. The forewing underside is yellow-brown in the basal half and without markings. It is brown distally and slightly speckled with dark brown. The hindwing upperside is orange with a thin dark brown marginal band. The hindwing underside is orange-brown and heavily speckled with dark brown.