The genome sequence of the lime hawk-moth, Mimas tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Mimas tiliae (the lime hawk-moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Sphingidae). The genome sequence is 478 megabases in span. The complete assembly is scaffolded into 29 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled.

The Filippi’s Glands of Giant Silk Moths: To Be or Not to Be?

The Filippi’s glands (FGs), formerly “Lyonet’s glands”, are paired accessory organs associated with the silk glands. They are unique to Lepidoptera caterpillars and their exact role is not clear. The FGs are thought to be involved in the construction of a silk cocoon in bombycoid moths. FGs can differ in size and shape, therefore, in this study we attempt to find a correlation between FG morphology and phylogenetic position within the Bombycoidea. We use light and electron microscopy to examine the presence and morphology of FGs in a range of wild (giant) silk moths and several related species. Our results confirm that the majority of studied silk moth species have complex type of FGs that continuously increase in size during larval development. We identified several species of giant silk moths and two hawk moth species that completely lack FGs throughout their larval development. Finally, in several hawk moth species in which FGs are well developed during the first larval stage, these glands do not grow and remain small during later larval growth. Our results suggest that FGs are not critical for spinning and that loss of FGs occurred several times during the evolution of saturniids and sphingids. Comparison of FGs in different moths is an important first step in the elucidation of their physiological significance.

Features of cultivation of the deadhead hawk moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) on artificial nutrient media

The results of testing of the method of cultivation of the deadhead hawk moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) using solid culture medium are given in this article. Optimal cultivation conditions for all caterpillar stages of this species are discussed. Information about bacterial infection of caterpillars which is caused by Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterial flora, is also noted in the results. Methods of treatment of this bacterial infection were selected empirically and also given use of bactericidal antibiotics (ceftriaxone) and selenopiran. We also trialled the use of a similar method of cultivation on some specific media for rare species of Lepidoptera like Proserpinus proserpina, Eudia pavonia, Saturnia pyri and some other species.

The genome sequence of the poplar hawk-moth, Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Laothoe populi (the poplar hawk-moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Sphingidae). The genome sequence is 576 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly is scaffolded into 29 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z sex chromosome assembled.

First record of the hawk moths genus Psilogramma Rothschild et Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) for the fauna of Russia

The widely distributed hawk moth Psilogramma increta (Walker, 1865) is found in the south part of Primorskii krai in 2020. The genus Psilogramma Rothschild et Jordan, 1903 is recorded from Russia for the first time.

New and recent records of hawk moths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Seychelles, with a description of a new insular subspecies

In this study, we examine a recent sample containing two hawk moth species (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Praslin and Mahé, Seychelles. It was widely accepted that the hawk moth species Temnora peckoveri (Butler, 1876) has a disjunctive range covering Madagascar and the Inner Seychelles. However, the Seychelles population of what was thought to be Temnora peckoveri shares a set of diagnostic morphological differences from both this species and T. fumosa (Walker, 1856) in the male genitalia structure. In particular, it remotely resembles Temnora fumosa based on the structure of aedeagus but differs from T. fumosa and T. peckoveri with respect to the harpe shape. Based on this evidence, we describe Temnora fumosa seychellensis Bolotov & Spitsyn ssp. nov. as a subspecies with restricted range, being endemic to the Inner Seychelles. The range of this subspecies covers Praslin (first record), Mahé, Silhouette, La Digue, Cousine, and Denis. Additionally, we report on recent occurrences of Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758) from Praslin (second record) and Mahé. The adult moths were recorded feeding on inflorescences of Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia Baker (Asparagaceae) for the first time. Finally, we present a complete list of Temnora fumosa seychellensis ssp. nov. and Agrius convolvuli occurrences from Seychelles.