Olive Bee hawkmoth

Hemaris croatica (Esper, 1780)

Distribution: A Ponto-Mediterranean species found in Southeastern Europe, including parts of Ukraine.

Bionomics: This species is closely tied to chalk steppes and rocky limestone outcrops with sparse vegetation. It is bivoltine, flying from mid-late May to late June and mid-late July to mid-late August. Adults are active during sunny days, feeding on flower nectar from Cephalaria, Jurinea, Onosma, and others. Females lay eggs singly on food plant leaves. Caterpillars primarily feed on Scabiosa and Cephalaria. Pupation occurs in a liquid cocoon among substrate fragments on the soil surface.

Abundance and Conservation: Vulnerable due to habitat requirements and limited distribution, it is disappearing due to habitat loss and is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (2021) as “rare.”