User:Dicynodont/drafts/Hemaris aethra/extras

Miscellaneous writing

The number of Hemaris spp. in North America

Most literature gives the number of Hemaris species in the Americas as four—the snowberry clearwing (H. diffinis), the hummingbird clearwing (H. thysbe), the graceful or slender clearwing (H. gracilis), and the Rocky Mountain clearwing (H. thetis)). The split of H. aethra from H. diffinis in 2018 would bring the number to five.

On Hemaris names with origins in Greek myth

See also: Metamorphoses in Greek mythology

As of July 2024, there are 23 currently accepted Hemaris species; out of these, __ bear names originating from Greek mythology.

• aethra, the Diervilla clearwing, after one Aethra out of a few possible figures
  • Aethra, Trojan princess and mother of Theseus by the sea god Poseidon (when he was in disguise, having taken on the form of her husband—see thetis).

The Garden of the Hesperides (c. 1869), Edward Burne-Jones, oil on canvas

• aksana, the Atlas bee hawkmoth, ultimately after Atlas, a Titan
  • H. aksana occurs in flower-rich meadows in the Middle and High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The Atlas mountains are named for Atlas, a Titan who in Greek mythology was tasked with holding up the world.

• thysbe, the hummingbird clearwing, after Thisbe, the tragic lover of Pyramus
  • As a species name, this likely references the crimson color of the moth's wing scales and sometimes abdominal and tail setae, recalling the bloodstained garment recovered by Thisbe in the myth. See Ovid's Metamorphoses trans. Humphries, p. 83-6 for a telling of it.

• thetis, the Rocky Mountain clearwing, after Thetis, a water deity
  • Thetis is a figure variously characterized as a water goddess or as one of the Nereids, the fifty sea-nymph daughters of Nereus and Doris. In the body of myth surrounding the Trojan War, she is the mother of Achilles. Being a water deity, Thetis had the ability to change form ("metamorphose"); thus, the name thetis may be intended to recall the complete metamorphosis ("holometaboly") the animal experiences as a lepidopteran, or possibly its mimicry of a bumblebee (figuratively, assuming the shape of another).

Gems found while researching

In the spirit of science...

The entire first section of A revision of the lepidopterous family Sphingidae (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903) is a both a thorough history of taxonomic malpractice pertaining to the internal classification of the Sphingidae and a well-reasoned treatise on good scientific inquiry.

Excerpts from the texts

Sesia and Haemorrhagia according to Strecker

Although Grote & Robinson had erected genus Haemorrhagia in 1865, Strecker chose to place aethra into genus Macroglossa. Referring to Grote & Robinson's Haemorrhagia, Strecker said:

Although another specific synonym [for genus Sesia] was [created in Grote & Robinson (1865)] on the assumption that Grote & Robinson knew more about Kirby's species than himself, still their fictitious genus Haemorrhagia was for the time, sensibly enough, suppressed by them, for after a rhodomontade of thinly-veiled and confused excuses in reference to Haemorrhagia, they say "which latter we can, therefore, no longer consider sufficiently distinct from Sesia to be retained as a genus." And it was only after Mr. Robinson's death that Grote again attempted to restore it in one of his innumerable and ever-changing spasmodic Lists of N. Am. Sphingidae, etc., which, like mushrooms, spring up in every issue of Buffalo Bill, and kindred publications.

Nature has no types or names

Rothschild & Jordan (1903), p. xxiv; emphases are theirs:

Some authors, accepting the word "type" in the ordinary sense implying that the specimens called types are typical individuals, very properly reply that these types are often aberrant specimens, and very seldom the most typical for the group of individuals to which they belong. This confusion of the verbal and the technical meaning of the word "type" misleads those authors to insist further that, there being no "types" in nature, one individual being no more a preeminent representative of the species (or variety) than another, the word "type" as a nomenclatorial term has no standing. It is obvious that those authors fall into a deplorable error of confounding the names, which are the product of scientists, with the objects named, which are the product of nature. Certainly there are no types in the nomenclatorial sense in nature, but there are also no names.

Hemaris and Macroglossum, Macroglossinae and Sesiinae

Rothschild & Jordan (1903), p. xxiv:

As a name is not valid if the animal or plant has already an earlier valid name, we reject also all those names of composite species and varieties of which one of the components has an earlier valid name, and the names of composite genera and higher categories which comprise the type of an earlier validly named genus or higher category respectively. ... Dalman's Hemaris (1816) is a synonym of Macroglossum (1777), because it includes the type of Macroglossum. And for the same reason the subfamily name Macroglossinae (1875) becomes a synonym of Sesiinae (1819).

Varieties were looked upon as freaks of nature

Rothschild & Jordan (1903), p. xxvi:

In former times varieties were looked upon as freaks of nature. They were to many a classifier an interesting nuisance, which often threatened to upset the balance of his well-fixed species, and were on that account more often entirely put aside than welcomed as an object for research. Esper who went perhaps deeper into the phenomena of variation than most of his contemporary entomologists, already distinguished between ordinary varieties (Abweichungen) and abnormal individuals (Ausartungen). However, as long as the principle of evolution underlying these varieties was not recognized, there was no need to study them systematically, and to work out a system of nomenclature which would bring into order the chaos of varieties, as did Linné's binomial system the chaotic mass of species.

Maassen on Boisduval and Strecker

Maassen (1880), "Bemerkungen zu der von A.G. Butler vorgenommenen Revision der Sphingiden", Entomologische Zeitung, pp. 50-51; machine translation from German to English using DeepL.com (free version):

Boisduval's System die Achtung aller einsichtvollen Lepidopterologen und diese wird ihm auch reichlich in Europa und Nord-Amerika zu Theil. Ich brauche aus letzterem Erdtheil nur den vortrefflichen Entomologen H. Strecker zu nennen. Es sei ferne von mir die Mängel und Fehler, welche dem Boisduval'schen Werke ankleben, wegleugnen zu wollen, aber derjenige, der selbst nicht fehlerfrei ist, (und wer wäre das wohl?) sollte bei der Beurtheilung eines verdienstvollen Entomologen weniger dictatorisch absprechend auftreten.

Boisduval's system has earned the respect of all insightful lepidopterists, and this is also abundantly accorded to him in Europe and North America. I need only mention the excellent entomologist H. Strecker from the latter part of the world. Far be it from me to deny the shortcomings and errors that cling to Boisduval's work, but he who is not free of errors himself (and who would that be?) should be less dictatorial in his assessment of a meritorious entomologist.

Smith on Grote

Hmm...

A Monograph on Sphingidae of America North of Mexico (1900), pp. 72-73:

In 1865, Mr. Grote gives some notes on the Sphingidæ of Cuba, following it by a list of species. The genera are not defined, and the arrangement is closely that of Walker. In the same year, and in the same publication, is an elaborate paper: "A Synonymical Catalogue of North American Sphingidæ, with notes and descriptions," by Messrs. Grote & Robinson, which marks a decided epoch in the American history of the family. A number of new genera and species are described, some errors of synonymy corrected, while Walker's bibliography is pretty generally quoted in full. The divisions are not defined nor is any reason given for the particular arrangement adopted. The scheme is as follows:

Family SPHINGIDÆ.

Tribe MACROGLOSSINÆ.
Genera Lepisesia, Sesia, Hæmorrhagia, Ællopos, Eupurrhoglossum (Cuban), Thyreus, Amphion, Deidamia, Proserpinus, Euproserpinus, Enyo, Hemeroplanes, Perigonia, Calliomma (the last three Cuban).

Tribe CHŒROCAMPINI.
Genera Otus, Darapsa, Pergesa (Cuban), Chœrocampa, Deilephila, Philampelus, Pachylia, Ambulyx (Cuban).

Tribe SMERINTHINI.
Genera Smerinthus, Cressonia.

Tribe SPHINGINI.
Genera Pseudosphinx (Cuban), Amphonyx, Macrosila, Diludia, Syzygia, Daremma, Ceratomia, Sphinx, Dolba, Hyloicus, Ellema, Lapara, Erinnyis, Cautethia, Arctonotus.

In 1873, in the Buffalo Bulletin I, 17, Mr. Grote gives a list of the American Sphingidæ, differing in toto from the preceding, no reason for the change being given. The scheme here is:

SPHINGIDÆ.

Subfamily BOMBYLIÆ Hübner.

Tribe VULGARES Hübner.
Genera Arctonotus, Lepisesia, Hemaris, Hæmorrhagia, Ællopos, Euproserpinus.

Tribe ÆQUIVOCÆ Hübner.
Genera Thyreus, Amphion, Enyo, Deidamia, Proserpinus.

Subfamily DEILEPHILÄ Hübner.

Tribe PALLIDIVENOSÆ.
Genera Deilephila, Dupo (for vitis and linnei), Philampelus (for pandorus and achemon), Pachylia, Argeus.

Tribe OBLIQUOSTRIATÆ.
Genus Metopsilus.

Tribe UNCINNATI.
Genus Darapsa.

Subfamily SMERINTHI Hübner.

Tribe ANGULATI Hübner.
Genera Paonia, Calasymbolus, Smerinthus.

Tribe DENTATÆ Hübner.
Genera Laothoe, Cressonia.

Subfamily MANDUCÆ Hübner.

Tribe PONDEROSÆ Hübner.
Genera Ceratomia, Daremma, Diludia (brontes, jasminearum), Macrosila, Sphinx (drupiferarum, kalmiæ, chersis), Lethia (gordius, luscitiosa), Agrius (eremitus, lugens), Dolba (hylæus).

Tribe LEVES Hübner.
Genera Dilophonota, Hyloicus, Ellema, Lapara.

It will be seen that here the Verzeichniss is used as a guide exclusively, and Arctonotus now heads the series.

p. 75:

In 1875, in the second volume of the Bull. Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci., Mr. Grote gives a "New Check List of North American Sphinges" decidely differing from that given in the previous volume. The arrangement here is as follows:

SPHINGES Linn. restr.

CAUDIBERBES Borkh.
Hemaris, Hæmorhagia, Ællopos, Euproserpinus, Arctonotus, Lepisesia, Proserpinus, Amphion, Thyreus, Enyo, Deidamia.

EUMORPHÆ Hüb.
Hyles (for chamænerii), Deilephila (for lineata), Dupo (vitis and linnei), Philampelus (pandorus and achemon) Argeus, Pachylia, Metopsilus, Darapsa.

PHALÆNOIDES Borkh.
Paonias (excæcatus and myops), Calasymbolus (astylus), Smerinthus, Amorpha (modesta), Cressonia.

MANDUCÆ Hüb. Ceratomia, Daremma, Diludia, Amphonyx, Macrosila, Sphinx, Lethia (gordius and luscitiosa), Agrius (eremitus and lugens), Dolba, Dilophonota, Hyloicus, Lapara.

pp. 78-79:

In 1877, in the third volume of the Buff. Bull., Mr. Grote gave yet another list, retaining the main divisions and general arrangement of the previous list, and adding species since described. In the CAUDIBERBES, Chamæsesia is added for gracilis, referred to Haemorrhagia in the previous list. In the EMORPHÆ, Elibia is used for versicolor, previously referred to Darapsa, and Everyx is used for the other species of Darapsa.

In the PHALÆNOIDES, Calasymbolus now contains also myops; Eusmerinthus is added for geminatus and cerisii, and Triptogon replaces Amorpha.

In the MANDUCÆ, Phlegethontius replaces Macrosila; Lethia is included in Sphinx, as is also Agrius lugens, while Lintneria is substituted for Agrius eremitus.

These changes, as Mr. Grote says, were induced by a study of the works of Boisduval and Butler, and are partly explained in footnotes. Evidently no personal study was made and no reason is given for separating such closely allied forms as lugens and eremitus. In fact nothing in this, or in the previous lists indicates that any but the most superficial study of the family was ever attempted by Mr. Grote.

p. 83:

As they stand in Mr. Grote's "New List" this subfamily—in Hübnerian jargon "Caudiberbes" yclept—has not a single character to hold it together.

Smith on Maassen

pp. 78-79:

Worthy of mention here is a paper by P. Maassen Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1880, v, 41, pp. 49-72, reviewing Mr. Butler's work in the Sphingidae. The author professes to be an admirer of Boisduval, and roughly criticises Butler for his disagreement with that author. He makes many notes on American species and their synonymy, some of them from their tenor and their style like inspirations from Mr. Strecker, especially in the "aside" reflections on Mr. Grote. Many of the synonymical remarks are correct, though previously made by others, while some argue either ignorance of the species or great carelessness in examination ... It is a pity that by an arrogant assumption of correctness and a failure to credit information, the author has thrown doubt on his other statements not so easily verified.

North American Hemaris spp. according to Smith

p. 87:

... The colors are black, with yellow and ferruginous maculation, and the species, when flying in the bright sunshine, bear a deceptive resemblance to humming birds, for which they are not infrequently mistaken.
In this genus I regret that the material at my command has been too incomplete to accord that careful study which it requires. There are many species described, and all sorts of opinions as to their validity. Boisduval's species are not satisfactorily identified in any collection, and are probably synonyms of others. Mr. Strecker's species are not certainly known to any but himself, while of the other species descrbed, many of them are based upon characters which all analogy seems to prove evanescent ...
The transformation of the larvæ takes place on the surface of the ground in an imperfect cocoon among the leaves.

thysbe's alleged squeak

Smith (1900), p. 89:

It may be stated here that in "Can. Nat. and Geol." 1859, p. 122, Dr. Gibbs records the fact that Sesia thysbe emits a squeaking sound. No one has since verified this observation.