Gorgon hawkmoth

Sphingonaepiopsis gorgoniades (Hübner, [1819])

Distribution: Ponto-Mediterranean species found from Southeastern Europe to Central Asia, with local populations in Ukraine.

Bionomics: This xero- and petrophilic steppe species inhabits limestone outcrops with sparse vegetation. It’s univoltine and flies from late May to July in Donbas and from April to October in Crimea. Active at dusk, it feeds on flower nectar from plants like Lamiaceae and Fabaceae. Caterpillars feed primarily on Galium. Pupation occurs in the litter.

Abundance and Conservation: Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (2021), it requires protection through habitat preservation and monitoring of its populations.