Nephele xylina
Encyclopedia
Nephele xylina is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from semi-deserts from Kenya
to Ethiopia
and Somalia
.
The length of the forewings is 30-33 mm. The antennae of the male are thicker than in other species of the Nephele
genus. The body and forewings are pale greyish olive to pale greyish buff. The abdomen is completely unmarked. The apex of the forewing is blunter than in other species and the termen is more rounded. The forewings have a number of diffuse irregular transverse lines and a very small pale stigma. The hindwings are uniform grey, but paler at the base.
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 semi-deserts from 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 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 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...
.
The length of the forewings is 30-33 mm. The antennae of the male are thicker than in other species of the Nephele
Nephele (genus)
Nephele is an Old World genus of moths in the Sphingidae family.-Species:*Nephele accentifera - *Nephele aequivalens - *Nephele argentifera - *Nephele bipartita - Butler 1878...
genus. The body and forewings are pale greyish olive to pale greyish buff. The abdomen is completely unmarked. The apex of the forewing is blunter than in other species and the termen is more rounded. The forewings have a number of diffuse irregular transverse lines and a very small pale stigma. The hindwings are uniform grey, but paler at the base.