Mimas tiliae (1) Insect Nocturnal Butterfly Sphinx Hawk Moth

Mimas tiliae one wing lenght cm 3-3.5 Insect Nocturnal Butterfly Sphinx Hawk Moth.
Family: Sphingidae (sphinxes).
Common name: The Lime Hawk-Moth.
Syn. Dilina tiliae, Mimas montana, Smerinthus tiliae, Sphinx tiliae.

Mimas tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758) is a moth belonging to the Sphingidae family.
The wingspan varies between 5.5 and 7 cm. The front wings have a characteristic shape, with jagged edges; the background color is a pinkish brown, darker towards the edges and with two central green or brown spots, of variable size and shape. The hind wings are simpler, brown or shaded grey. Adults present a marked sexual dimorphism: females are a little larger, with less vivid colors and more tending towards brown, while males tend decidedly towards green; The abdomen is also different, which in females is very straight, swollen and short, while in males it is slimmer and clearly arched.
As can be seen from the name, the favorite host plant of this moth is the lime tree, but it also reproduces on ash, elm, birch, alder, cherry, chestnut and maple. Adults do not feed; they fly only a couple of hours after sunset, and are often attracted to light. They generally stay high up in the trees, where mating also takes place.
It is a species with a Palearctic distribution, documented in Europe, northern Africa and central-northern Asia. As regards Europe, its presence is attested in almost the entire continental part. It is a common species in woodlands and suburban areas such as parks and gardens.