Hippotion socotrensis is a moth

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 dry areas from eastern Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

 to southern Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...

 and probably Somalia

Somalia

Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...

. It is also present on Socotra

Socotra

Socotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...

.

The length of the forewings is 22-25 mm. The antennae are pale buff. The body and forewings are ochreous-olive. The forewings have indications of an antemedial band, and a darker, broad diffuse medial fascia. There is a short, indistinct oblique dark streak at the apex. The hindwings are uniformly darker brown. The cilia of both wings are chequered. Subspecies diyllus differs from the nominate race in having a paler, more greenish ground
colour and a more reduced median band, usually indicated by a large, diffuse, central dark spot.

Subspecies

• Hippotion socotrensis socotrensis (Socotra)
• Hippotion socotrensis diyllus Fawcett, 1915 (dry areas from eastern Kenya to southern Ethiopia and probably Somalia)