Xylophanes guianensis
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes guianensis is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is found from French Guiana
south-west to Bolivia
.
It is similar to Xylophanes ceratomioides
, but the outer margin of the forewing margin is much more strongly scalloped and the dorsal lines of the abdomen are as in Xylophanes xylobotes
. The costa of the forewing upperside has several conspicuous subapical and apical black spots, the largest subapical spot is quadrate. Most distal antemedian lines and most basal postmedian lines meet on inner edge of the forewing upperside. The postmedian lines are clearly visible within the postmedian area. They are almost straight, except toward the inner edge of the wing. The pale brown excavated area on the outer margin of the postmedian band is narrow, rectangular and not well defined due to the visible presence within it of the third, fourth and fifth postmedian lines. The pale bands of the hindwing upperside are intermediate in coloration between those of Xylophanes ceratomioides and Xylophanes xylobotes.
There are probably multiple generations per year.
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 found from French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
south-west to 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...
.
It is similar to Xylophanes ceratomioides
Xylophanes ceratomioides
Xylophanes ceratomioides is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Bolivia, Argentina and Venezuela, down into southern Brazil. Rare vagrants have been found up to southern Arizona....
, but the outer margin of the forewing margin is much more strongly scalloped and the dorsal lines of the abdomen are as in Xylophanes xylobotes
Xylophanes xylobotes
Xylophanes xylobotes is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Peru.It is similar to Xylophanes ceratomioides, but paler and all three dorsal abdominal lines are evenly narrow and continuous. The black apical line of the antenna is very short...
. The costa of the forewing upperside has several conspicuous subapical and apical black spots, the largest subapical spot is quadrate. Most distal antemedian lines and most basal postmedian lines meet on inner edge of the forewing upperside. The postmedian lines are clearly visible within the postmedian area. They are almost straight, except toward the inner edge of the wing. The pale brown excavated area on the outer margin of the postmedian band is narrow, rectangular and not well defined due to the visible presence within it of the third, fourth and fifth postmedian lines. The pale bands of the hindwing upperside are intermediate in coloration between those of Xylophanes ceratomioides and Xylophanes xylobotes.
There are probably multiple generations per year.
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.