Xylophanes fosteri
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes fosteri is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from Paraguay
, but is probably also found in Argentina
.
The length of the forewings is about 30 mm for males and 33 mm for females. It is similar to Xylophanes turbata
. Differences in the forewing upperside are two short dashes distal to the discal spot which are blurred into a diffuse patch. The first and second postmedian lines are merged into a broad band at the inner margin of the wing, gradually diverging towards the apex but disappearing later. The fourth and fifth postmedian lines are parallel at first, but divergent later and then disappearing. The fourth line is represented only by vein dots.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae possibly feed on Psychotria panamensis, Psychotria nervosa
and Pavonia guanacastensis.
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 Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, but is probably also found in 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 length of the forewings is about 30 mm for males and 33 mm for females. It is similar to Xylophanes turbata
Xylophanes turbata
Xylophanes turbata is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Mexico to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. An occasional stray may be found up to southern Arizona....
. Differences in the forewing upperside are two short dashes distal to the discal spot which are blurred into a diffuse patch. The first and second postmedian lines are merged into a broad band at the inner margin of the wing, gradually diverging towards the apex but disappearing later. The fourth and fifth postmedian lines are parallel at first, but divergent later and then disappearing. The fourth line is represented only by vein dots.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae possibly feed on Psychotria panamensis, 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 Pavonia guanacastensis.