Breaking western limits: Repeated occurrences of the oleander hawk-moth Daphnis nerii (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) into the Iberian Peninsula extend its documented European range
The Oleander Hawk-Moth Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758) is a strongly migratory sphingid whose occurrence in western Europe is typically sporadic. We report the first confirmed records of the species in Portugal, based on isolated adult observations and the discovery of larvae and pupae on Nerium olea...
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| Date: | 2026 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Publishing House "Akademperiodyka" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2026
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/934 |
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| Journal Title: | Zoodiversity |
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Zoodiversity| Summary: | The Oleander Hawk-Moth Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758) is a strongly migratory sphingid whose occurrence in western Europe is typically sporadic. We report the first confirmed records of the species in Portugal, based on isolated adult observations and the discovery of larvae and pupae on Nerium oleander, and improve on what is known in Spain. Additional adult records from 2014 and 2024 demonstrate repeated but irregular occurrence across the region. We discuss the recent findings within a broader European context and in relation to long-standing assumptions on the species’ migratory origin, using records from 2014 onwards in both Spain and Portugal. Although local establishment cannot currently be confirmed, this may change under increasingly favourable climatic conditions. |
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