Psilogramma argos
Encyclopedia
Psilogramma argos is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from Western Australia
, the Northern Territory
and northern Queensland
.
Adults have long, narrow pale grey wings, with black markings. The abdomen is grey, with no dark dorsal line.
The larvae feed on Gyrocarpus americanus
. They are green with a strong curved horn on the tail pointing backwards, a series of diagonal white stripes on the sides and dark marks on the back of each segment. Full-grown larvae are about 80 mm long. Mature larvae leave the food plant and forms a cell of silk under the soil in which pupation takes place.
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 Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, 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 northern 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...
.
Adults have long, narrow pale grey wings, with black markings. The abdomen is grey, with no dark dorsal line.
The larvae feed on Gyrocarpus americanus
Gyrocarpus americanus
Gyrocarpus americanus is a flowering plant in the Hernandiaceae family with a wide pantropical distribution. It is commonly and variously known as the Helicopter Tree, Propeller Tree, Whirly Whirly Tree, Stinkwood or Shitwood...
. They are green with a strong curved horn on the tail pointing backwards, a series of diagonal white stripes on the sides and dark marks on the back of each segment. Full-grown larvae are about 80 mm long. Mature larvae leave the food plant and forms a cell of silk under the soil in which pupation takes place.