Xylophanes anubus
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes anubus is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is found in Surinam, Mexico
, Belize
, Nicaragua
, Costa Rica
and south to Brazil
, Bolivia
and Argentina
.
The wingspan
is 97-102 mm. Females are larger than males. It is a very variable species in terms of size and degree of development of the oblique lines of the forewing upperside. The costal margin of the forewing is often rather strongly convex and the apex is recurved. The abdomen has three dorsal lines, the median line is usually the most distinct but may be absent and the lateral lines are sometimes reduced to rows of dots. The forewing upperside is either with or without a dark cloud distal to discal cell. There are seven oblique lines present of which the third is the heaviest.
Adults are on wing year round in Costa Rica.
The larvae feed on Psychotria panamensis, Psychotria chiapensis, Psychotria psychotriifolia, Psychotria nervosa
and Garrobo species. They often eat half or part of a leaf and then move to a different leaf. The first and second instars are green, changing to mottled brown or almost black at the third instar. Most feeding takes place after dusk and larvae often hide in leaf rolls or under a branch during the day.
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 found in Surinam, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, 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 south to 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...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 97-102 mm. Females are larger than males. It is a very variable species in terms of size and degree of development of the oblique lines of the forewing upperside. The costal margin of the forewing is often rather strongly convex and the apex is recurved. The abdomen has three dorsal lines, the median line is usually the most distinct but may be absent and the lateral lines are sometimes reduced to rows of dots. The forewing upperside is either with or without a dark cloud distal to discal cell. There are seven oblique lines present of which the third is the heaviest.
Adults are on wing year round in Costa Rica.
The larvae feed on Psychotria panamensis, Psychotria chiapensis, Psychotria psychotriifolia, Psychotria nervosa
Psychotria nervosa
Psychotria nervosa, also known as wild coffee, is a shade tolerant medium-sized shrub native to Florida as well as Central and South America. It produces "small, red, ellipsoid fruit" that resemble "the true coffee bean" in shape and attract birds...
and Garrobo species. They often eat half or part of a leaf and then move to a different leaf. The first and second instars are green, changing to mottled brown or almost black at the third instar. Most feeding takes place after dusk and larvae often hide in leaf rolls or under a branch during the day.
External links
- Xylophanes anubus anubus Sphingidae of the Americas