Synonymized with Sphinx stellatarum (as var. β) by Linnaeus, 1767, Syst. Nat. (Edn 12): 803. Reinstated as a species by Hübner, 1819, Verz. bekannter Schmett.: 132 (but misattributed to Cramer). Transferred to Macroglossum (as ‡Macroglossa) by Boisduval, 1875, in: Boisduval & Guenée, Hist. nat. Insectes (Spec. gén. Lépid. Hétérocères) 1: 343.
Nomenclature notes:
Rothschild & Jordan, 1903, Novit. zool. 9 (suppl.): 638, noted that Linnaeus' description of Sphinx belis was so short that it is impossible to say which species of Macroglossum he had before him. They considered that the species figured by Cramer, 1776, Uitlandsche Kapellen (Papillons exot.), 1: 147, pl. 94, fig. C, best agreed with the present insect.
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical):
Ed Baker,
Katherine Bouton
Alice Heaton
Dimitris Koureas,
Laurence Livermore,
Dave Roberts,
Simon Rycroft,
Ben Scott,
Vince Smith
