Nyceryx magna
Encyclopedia
Nyceryx magna is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from Brazil
, Costa Rica
and Ecuador
.
It can be distinguished from other Nyceryx
species by the dark forewing upperside and the brownish-orange basal area and pale purple bands in the tornal angle of the hindwing upperside.
Adults are on wing year round.
The larvae feed on Pentagonia donnell-smithii. Early instar larvae have very large heads and elongated tails. The head has a distinctive blue-green colour in the final instar and the tail is shorter and rough. The pupa is smooth and shiny with alternating light and dark bands on the abdomen.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...
family. It is known from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
.
It can be distinguished from other Nyceryx
Nyceryx
Nyceryx is a genus of moths in the Sphingidae family.-Species:*Nyceryx alophus - *Nyceryx brevis - Becker, 2001*Nyceryx coffaeae - *Nyceryx continua - *Nyceryx draudti - Gehlen 1926...
species by the dark forewing upperside and the brownish-orange basal area and pale purple bands in the tornal angle of the hindwing upperside.
Adults are on wing year round.
The larvae feed on Pentagonia donnell-smithii. Early instar larvae have very large heads and elongated tails. The head has a distinctive blue-green colour in the final instar and the tail is shorter and rough. The pupa is smooth and shiny with alternating light and dark bands on the abdomen.