Seasonality and abundance of sphingids in a garden on the lower slopes of the Uluguru Mountains in Morogoro Township in Tanzania

Abstract

For the past 14 years hawk moths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) have been collected in a garden (580 m a.s.l.) in the 'Forest Hills' area of Morogoro, on the lower slopes of the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. Moths were attracted using two l60-watt mercury-¬vapour bulbs and a I5-watt ultraviolet tube-light. They were collected and counted on a white cotton sheet affixed to the wall of a house with the lights suspended in front of it, facing towards the western slopes of the lower Uluguru Mountains. Different species on the wing have been recorded on a nightly basis from June 1996 to December 1997. Altogether, during the whole study period, a total of 56 sphingid species have been encountered. Hawk moths are most abundantly on the wing from March to June peaking in May (late rainy season). The most common species are Agrius convolvuli, Daphnis nerii, Nephele aequivalens, Nephele comma, Euchloron megaera, Hippotion celerio and Hippotion eson. These can be caught throughout the year. The common species in Morogoro are almost identical to those in similar habitat in Freetown, Sierra Leone (West Africa).

Journal of East African Natural History Vol. 87 (1&2) 1998: pp. 213-220