- Thysania agrippina
Taxobox
name = "Thysania agrippina"
image_caption = White Witch moth "Thysania agrippina"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Lepidoptera
familia =Noctuidae
subfamilia =Calpinae
genus = "Thysania "
species = "T. agrippina"
binomial = "Thysania agrippina"
binomial_authority = (Cramer, 1776)"Thysania agrippina", known by names such as the White Witch moth, the Birdwing Moth, Ghost Moth, Great Grey Witch or Great Owlet Moth, is a large
moth in theNoctuidae family. It has a wingspan of up to 12 inches (31 cm), making it theLepidoptera n with the biggest wingspan. (TheAtlas moth , however, has a greater wing area.) The White Witch is found in Mexico, Central and South America, but it appears as a stray as far north as Texas.This species is considered endangered in the state of
Rio Grande do Sul ,Brazil , where it reaches the southern limit of its distribution.No confirmed rearing records are available for this species. Based on reports for sister species "
Thysania zenobia " that feeds on "Senna " and "Cassia ", the larval host plants for the White Whitch are probably also woodyFabaceae (subfamilyCaesalpinioideae ). The larva illustrated byMaria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) as "Thysania agrippina" is aSphingidae , possibly "Pseudosphinx tetrio " or "Pachylia syces ".Additional pictures
ee also
"
Ascalapha odorata ", the Black Witch moth.External links
* [http://www.texasento.net/agrippina.htm site with pictures]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
