Today, I present yet another fascinating insect worth admiring for its unique form and remarkable capabilities. Considering the vast world population of thousands of insect species, which surpasses the human population several times over, studying them becomes an immense challenge. New species continue to be discovered, particularly in the expansive tropical forests worldwide. In this instance, let’s delve into learning about the Elephant Hawk Moth and its distinctive characteristics. Join me on this exploration.
The popular name of this incredible insect is elephant hawk moth and its scientific name is Deilephila elpenor. It has the ability to fly like hummingbirds to extract nectar and pollen from different species of flowers, it is also considered one of the fastest flying insects in the world, the maximum recorded speed is about 12 miles per hour, nothing more for our friend.
We could stop a little to internalize because it is called under the name of a mammal like an elephant and a bird like a falcon, apparently has a bulky body of an elephant and the speed of a falcon, nothing more to combine this name. In addition, just this species there is an incredible variety of 1400 different hawk moths, each with unique characteristics.
This insect goes through a series of stages before growing, before its complete metamorphosis is a long green and brown larva, has a striking spine resembling a horn in the back of the abdominal segment, and the other end has a snout very similar to a trunk is perhaps one of the reasons why it was given the name of elephant.
These species manage to survive in this stage because of its threatening aspect which repels different predators such as birds, while the caterpillar feeds on plants to continue with its evolutionary and transformation cycle.
When they are adults, their behavior is nocturnal feeding on the nectar of the petunias their favorite plant, their colors are splendid when the light of the sun is reflected, changing from red to green by the action of the light and especially while this in motion. However, at this stage of their lives, they face predators such as bats that have preferences for these insects.
The elephant hawkmoth is equipped with sophisticated night vision, its vision is scotopic and has 2 varieties of ommatidium that has nine cells and seven pigments that help it absorb light in a natural way, the sensitivity is such that they see with total clarity even in the darkest night.
This is important and unique in this species, most insects see well at night but not compared to the vision of the elephant hawk moth is a benchmark of constant study to know how it is possible to maintain such an extreme vision with subtle variations in the range of colors, bone is able to absorb light at night and see the color as a human would see it, although the human under a condition of low luminosity is unable to recognize a specific color.
As you can see this insect competes with birds in its speed and has eyes super sensitive to light, perhaps after all his name was the best chosen because it actually has the speed of a hummingbird and the vision of a hawk.
Thank you for reading