Hyles lineata lineata

Hyles lineata lineata
HYE-leezmmlih-nee-AGH-tuh
(Fabricius, 1775) Sphinx
White-lined Sphinx

Hyles lineata nectaring, Chatham, Kent County, Ontario,
September 24, 2010, courtesy of John Van der Pryt.

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TAXONOMY:

Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802
Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839
Tribe: Macroglossini, Harris, 1839
Genus: Hyles Hubner, [1819] ...........
Species: lineata lineata (Fabricius, 1775)

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Hyles lineata nectaring (verso), Chatham, Kent County, Ontario,
September 24, 2010, courtesy of John Van der Pryt.

The angulation of one hind wing seems to be out of sync with the other wings. I wonder if the muscles of each wing can move independently of each other to assist with manouevering and stabilization. Obviously, the moth is not just floating in the air, but it is hovering with wings beating at a rapid pace.

Hyles lineata resting, Chatham, Kent County, Ontario,
September 24, 2010, courtesy of John Van der Pryt.

I do not think there are breeding populations of Hyles lineata in Ontario, at least not populations that overwinter. I suspect that the moth, beautifully captured in camera by John, is a wind assisted migrant from further south, or the offsrping of such a migrant. I have yet to see a Hyles lineata larva from Ontario.

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