Considerations on the northern expansion of the summer migration range in the oleander hawk-moth Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera : Sphingidae)

Abstract

Outbreaks of the oleander hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii), a sphingid of tropic/subtropic origins, occurred in October-December 1997 and September-December 1998 over the area of Fukuoka and Saga Prefectures. This clearly shows that the range of summer migration of D. nerii is expanding from southern Kyushu to the north. Our observations suggest that (1) after arrival, there were at least two generations in natural environments of northern Kyushu and (2) this lepidopteran failed to survive our winter.