Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage
 

Gnathothlibus erotus

‘Iriano (MG)

White-brow Hawkmoth

Multimedia & Additional Resources

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Open this image in pop-up window Image: Adult feeding on Tahitian Gardenia 48KB
Open this image in pop-up window Image: Adult resting 45KB
Open this image in pop-up window Image: Specimen - wings spread 43KB
Open this image in pop-up window Image: Caterpillar 34KB
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Gerald McCormack, September 2005
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General Information

COMMON NAMES: White-brow Hawkmoth, White-brow Hawk-moth, White-brow Sphinx-Moth

TRADITIONAL NAMES: ‘Iriano / ‘Irianu (MG), Mū (MK), Kiona (MT), Kikiona (AK), Manu Tāmate Mōlī (TS), Manu Tāmate Mōrī (TW), Kauapule (PK)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE India - Indonesia / Australia - New Caledonia - Pitcairn

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; Land, lowlands; larvae often on

SIGNIFICANCE LIST: ; Pest

KEY FEATURES: Thickset moth to 5cm TL, wingspan 9cm. Body brown; forewings brown with faint light and dark markings; hindwings yellow-orange; white stripe from over each eye and over wingbase. Legs white. CATERPILLAR brown or green with white eyespots linked by pale stripe, horn small.

Enlarged Image of 'Gnathothlibus erotus'

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR 
MG
AT
MK
MT
AK
PL
TK
MN
+++
P

Northern Group:
TN 
MH
RK
PK
NS
SW
+++
+++

Key to Symbols

Scientific Taxonomy

Gnathothlibus erotus (Cramer, 1777)
SYNONYMS: Sphinx erotus [O]; Chromis erotus; Chromis eras; Gnathothlibus erotus eras [subsp. Moluccas eastward]

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; ARTHROPODA; ATELOCERATA; HEXAPODA; INSECTA; PTERYGOTA; Lepidoptera; SPHINGIDAE

More Information

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
NEGATIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Pest. Comments: Calterpillar feeds on morning-glories, including Sweet Potato, Indian Mulberry, Pentas and Grapevine (Vitis).

IDENTIFICATION: Thickset moth to 5cm TL, wingspan to 9cm. Dark brown uppers with white stripe over eye and thorax. Forewings fold roof-like, brown with variable light and dark markings; small cell spot and pair of dark brown circular spots near edge, close to body. Hind wings yellow-orange with brown rear border. Underside with variable shades of brown and ochre. Head has large eyes. Head, Thorax and Abdomen dark brown. Legs cream. Antennae cream dorsally and brown ventrally, long, slender with hooked tip. CATERPILLAR brown or green, with dark-ringed white eyespots, linked by a red or yellow line.

GENERAL NOTE: Caterpillar is a typical hornworm (see Agrius convolvuli), greenish, on foliage of nono (Morinda citrifolia) and possibly other Rubiaceae. Adults feed as does Agrius, and can be abundant around lights.

Vouchers & References

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: BESO99, specimen #176, 380, ID J.Dugdale 4/2000. Pukapuka: fieldspecimens+photo, 2/2004, in GR house at night, ID GMcC.

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

Web Resources

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org. Copy citation to system clipboard
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