Xylophanes columbiana
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes columbiana is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from Colombia
.
The length of the forewings is about 32 mm. It is similar to Xylophanes elara
, the thorax and abdomen for instance are identical in colour and pattern. Difference is that the third of the oblique postmedian lines lies so close to the heavy fourth line that it is virtually indistinguishable. The dark subbasal area along the inner margin of the forewing underside is less extensive. Of the five postmedian lines present in Xylophanes elara, line one is heavier, line two is absent, line three is prominent from the costa almost to the inner margin, line four is absent and line five is more wavy.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae probably feed on Rubiaceae
and Malvaceae
species.
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 Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
The length of the forewings is about 32 mm. It is similar to Xylophanes elara
Xylophanes elara
Xylophanes elara is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Paraguay, Surinam, Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil.The upperside of the wings and body are olive-green and the distal margin of the forewing is strongly excavate below the falcate apex, then convex. The dorsal scales of the...
, the thorax and abdomen for instance are identical in colour and pattern. Difference is that the third of the oblique postmedian lines lies so close to the heavy fourth line that it is virtually indistinguishable. The dark subbasal area along the inner margin of the forewing underside is less extensive. Of the five postmedian lines present in Xylophanes elara, line one is heavier, line two is absent, line three is prominent from the costa almost to the inner margin, line four is absent and line five is more wavy.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae probably feed on Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
and Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
species.