Sphinx drupiferarum (Taxonomy)
Recognisable by the forewing upperside with a strong contrast between the pale grey to almost white costal area and the dark grey discal and post-discal area. The somewhat similar pale area Sphinx perelegans is entirely posterior to the subcostal vein. Antenna short, one third (male) or less (female) the length of the forewing. Palpus produced well beyond the scaling of the frons.Forelegs with spines numerous, but not long.Foretarsus with 1st segment swollen, about as long as segments 2-3 together.Midtarsus with 1st segment longer than segments 2-5 together; comb with some long bristles; spines of rows 2 & 3 close together and long.Hindtibia with long apical spur more than half the length of 1st hindtarsal segment.Hindtarsus with 1st segment longer than segments 2-5 together.Paronychium with lobes, but these do not reach far beyond middle of claw.Abdomen with black ventro-lateral lines very distinct. Forewing upperside discal cell with 2 or 3 black lines along intervenosae. Uncus strongly curved, the process parallel-sided, apex abruptly narrowed to an obtusely pointed hook; upper surface flattened, underside convex.Gnathos with mesial lobe that is broad, distally narrowed, gently curved, apically sinuate and rounded.Valve broadly sole-shaped, rather narrow apically, the dorsal margin more rounded than the ventral.Harpe produced ventro-distally into a finger-like, slightly curved process; the dorso-distal corner with a heavy, curved tooth, with a few smaller teeth on the distal edge.Juxta ventrally produced into a solid, pointed cone.Aedeagus dorsally produced into a concave, apically rounded process with a sharp subapical tooth. Ostial plate heavily wrinkled, the proximal, mesial part convex, raised anteriorly to the ostial cavity, forming a cover that conceals the ostium; behind the cavity is a large, smooth tubercle, abruptly truncate proximately, with the plate concave at each side of it.