The Sphingidae of Southeast-Asia    

(incl. New Guinea, Bismarck & Solomon Islands)                                 Back to start page,  species list           

by Jan Beck & Ian J. Kitching                                                                                                                    

Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758)

For further information on this species, see SphinWP & SphinEP

Taxonomy

Distribution

The species has colonized Hawaii (Oahu island) in the mid-1970's (transported by human traffic?) and is also spreading in SE-Asia, possibly following the cultivation of its larval hostplant Nerium (oleander) in urban gardens and parks. In Borneo, for example, it has only recently been found in coastal Brunei and in the Sandakan suburban area (Sabah, Malaysia), were it is very common now (Chey Vun Khen 2002 & pers. com.). However, depite intense sampling it seems to be absent from the more rural interior. In Thailand, adult D. nerii were never observed to come to light but only ever captured while nectaring at flowers or as larvae. This is in contrast to D. hypothous, which was easily and frequently attracted to light. This lack of attraction to light of D. nerii may result in the species being under-recorded, even in areas where it is common.

The record in southwest China (Xiaomengtong, Yunnan province) is described as a 'rare vagrant'.