Sphinginae

Members of Sphinginae are distinguished from the other hawkmoth subfamily, Macroglossinae, primarily by genitalia structure and forewing venation patterns. The subfamily contains some of the largest and most robust hawkmoth species. Tribe Acherontiini is characterized by the presence of a skull-like pattern on the thorax in Acherontia species. Tribe Sphingini typically includes larger-bodied species with streamlined forewings and powerful flight musculature.

Cosmopolitan distribution with species occurring on every continent except Antarctica. Highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.

The death's-head hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos) has achieved cultural notoriety through its appearance in the film 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Some species are minor agricultural pests of solanaceous crops. The long-proboscised hawkmoth Xanthopan morganii was famously predicted by Charles Darwin based on the structure of the orchid Angraecum sesquipedale, representing a classic example of coevolutionary theory.

• MacroglossinaeThe other subfamily of Sphingidae, distinguished from Sphinginae by differences in genitalia morphology and forewing venation patterns.

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Bombycoidea: Saturniidae: Bunaeinae, Saturninae; Sphingidae: Macroglosiinae, Sphinginae
• Phylogeny of the death's head hawkmoths, Acherontia [Laspeyres], and related genera (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae: Sphinginae: Acherontiini)