Xylophanes maculator
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes maculator is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is found from Mexico
and Belize
to Ecuador
and further south to Venezuela
and Bolivia
.
The wingspan
is 65–75 mm. The upperside of the body has a characteristic pair of dark brown, subdorsal, longitudinal lines that run from the head, over the prothorax, along the inner edge of the tegula, across the metathorax and along the abdomen as a lateral stripe. The dorsal line of the abdomen is bordered by a pair of narrow dark brown lines highlighted on the posterior margins of the tergites by small spots. The forewings are relatively short and the outer margin is straight and the apex slightly falcate. The forewing upperside ground colour is brown and the discal spot small and black, immediately beyond which is a variably developed black cloud. The first to third postmedian lines are narrow (the first is sometimes heavier than the other two and straight along its entire length). The fourth postmedian line is strongest and the area between this and the fifth postmedian line is suffused with orange. The fifth postmedian line is interrupted. The inner margin distal to fourth postmedian line is shaded with black.
Adults are on wing in April, from June to July, August or September and from November to December in Costa Rica but might even be on wing year round.
The larvae probably feed on Rubiaceae
(such as Psychotria nervosa
and Psychotria horizontalis), Fabaceae (such as Inga vera), Malvaceae
and Dilleniaceae
(such as Tetracera volubilis) species. There are green and brown larval forms, which seem to choose appropriate hiding places to best blend in with the surroundings. The eyes are black with a blue-white dot. There is a dull yellow eye ring. The tail is black with a swelling at the base. There are fine yellow dots that are wide-spaced on the body. The last instar is gray black.
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 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...
and 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...
to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and further south to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and 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...
.
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 65–75 mm. The upperside of the body has a characteristic pair of dark brown, subdorsal, longitudinal lines that run from the head, over the prothorax, along the inner edge of the tegula, across the metathorax and along the abdomen as a lateral stripe. The dorsal line of the abdomen is bordered by a pair of narrow dark brown lines highlighted on the posterior margins of the tergites by small spots. The forewings are relatively short and the outer margin is straight and the apex slightly falcate. The forewing upperside ground colour is brown and the discal spot small and black, immediately beyond which is a variably developed black cloud. The first to third postmedian lines are narrow (the first is sometimes heavier than the other two and straight along its entire length). The fourth postmedian line is strongest and the area between this and the fifth postmedian line is suffused with orange. The fifth postmedian line is interrupted. The inner margin distal to fourth postmedian line is shaded with black.
Adults are on wing in April, from June to July, August or September and from November to December in Costa Rica but might even be 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 ,...
(such as 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 Psychotria horizontalis), Fabaceae (such as Inga vera), 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...
and Dilleniaceae
Dilleniaceae
Dilleniaceae is the botanical name for a family of flowering plants. Such a family has been universally recognized by taxonomists. It is known to gardeners for the genus Hibbertia, which contains many commercially valuable garden species....
(such as Tetracera volubilis) species. There are green and brown larval forms, which seem to choose appropriate hiding places to best blend in with the surroundings. The eyes are black with a blue-white dot. There is a dull yellow eye ring. The tail is black with a swelling at the base. There are fine yellow dots that are wide-spaced on the body. The last instar is gray black.