Xylophanes resta
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes resta is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is found from Venezuela
south to Peru
and Bolivia
.
The length of the forewings is 36-41 mm. It is intermediate in appearance between Xylophanes aristor
and Xylophanes tersa
. There is a weakly developed golden medial line on the tegula. The upperside of the thorax has a grey medial band, bordered laterally and divided medially by brown lines. This band is continued along the abdomen but becomes faint after the first two abdominal segments. There are golden-yellow lateral stripes on the abdominal segments three to six and a patch of pale hairs and a black patch anterior to these. The forewing upperside has a characteristic brown tone. The first postmedian line is very strong basally but disappeares towards the apex. The second postmedian line is fused basally with the first and the fourth postmedian line is less than half the width of the first. The forewing and hindwing underside are brighter than in Xylophanes tersa and the brown markings are consequently more prominent. There is a straight brown line, in some places indistinct, crossing the wing parallel to the distal margin. The marginal area is not, or only slightly, darker than the disc. There is a weakly defined yellow costal patch present apically. The median band on the hindwing upperside has pale yellow spots. The marginal area of the hindwing underside is divided by the veins, which are pale orange.
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 found from 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...
south to Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
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 length of the forewings is 36-41 mm. It is intermediate in appearance between Xylophanes aristor
Xylophanes aristor
Xylophanes aristor is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Guatemala to Venezuela, Ecuador and probably Colombia.The forewing upperside ground colour and the upperside of the body is olive-green and the forewing underside is orange...
and Xylophanes tersa
Xylophanes tersa
The Tersa Sphinx is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found from the United States , through Mexico, the West Indies and Central America and into parts of South America...
. There is a weakly developed golden medial line on the tegula. The upperside of the thorax has a grey medial band, bordered laterally and divided medially by brown lines. This band is continued along the abdomen but becomes faint after the first two abdominal segments. There are golden-yellow lateral stripes on the abdominal segments three to six and a patch of pale hairs and a black patch anterior to these. The forewing upperside has a characteristic brown tone. The first postmedian line is very strong basally but disappeares towards the apex. The second postmedian line is fused basally with the first and the fourth postmedian line is less than half the width of the first. The forewing and hindwing underside are brighter than in Xylophanes tersa and the brown markings are consequently more prominent. There is a straight brown line, in some places indistinct, crossing the wing parallel to the distal margin. The marginal area is not, or only slightly, darker than the disc. There is a weakly defined yellow costal patch present apically. The median band on the hindwing upperside has pale yellow spots. The marginal area of the hindwing underside is divided by the veins, which are pale orange.
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.