Xylophanes katharinae
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes katharinae is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from Mexico
.
It is intermediate in forewing shape between Xylophanes damocrita
and Xylophanes josephinae
, but distinguishable from both by the much broader pale orange median band on the hindwing upperside. The forewing apex is slightly more elongate and pointed than in Xylophanes josephinae. The hindwing apex is generally slightly exceeding the forewing tornus. The forewing upperside is similar to Xylophanes damocrita, but the second and third postmedian lines are diffuse and partially interrupted and the pale area between the third and fourth postmedian lines is twice as wide. The median band of the hindwing upperside is pale orange and twice as broad as the marginal band, the outer margin is almost even and the inner margin is prolonged along the veins as dark streaks for over half the width of the band.
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 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...
.
It is intermediate in forewing shape between Xylophanes damocrita
Xylophanes damocrita
Xylophanes damocrita is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Mexico.The ground colour of the uppersides of the forewings and body is dark olive green or brown. The tegula is dark olive-green with a median longitudinal dark golden-yellow line. There is another line of the same colour...
and Xylophanes josephinae
Xylophanes josephinae
Xylophanes josephinae is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Guatemala and Mexico.The wingspan is 40-42 mm. It is similar to Xylophanes damocrita but larger, the forewings are more elongate, making the outer margin appear almost straight, the hindwings are longer...
, but distinguishable from both by the much broader pale orange median band on the hindwing upperside. The forewing apex is slightly more elongate and pointed than in Xylophanes josephinae. The hindwing apex is generally slightly exceeding the forewing tornus. The forewing upperside is similar to Xylophanes damocrita, but the second and third postmedian lines are diffuse and partially interrupted and the pale area between the third and fourth postmedian lines is twice as wide. The median band of the hindwing upperside is pale orange and twice as broad as the marginal band, the outer margin is almost even and the inner margin is prolonged along the veins as dark streaks for over half the width of the band.
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.