Xylophanes zurcheri is a moth

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...

, Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....

, Guatemala

Guatemala

Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...

 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...

.

It is similar in colour and pattern to Xylophanes undata

Xylophanes undata

Xylophanes undata is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found from Central America to Peru and further south into Bolivia.The wingspan is 72-83 mm. It is similar in colour and pattern to Xylophanes zurcheri, but the forewing outer margin is more strongly crenulated, the crenulations are all of...

, but the forewing outer margin is less strongly crenulated, most distal postmedian lines on the forewing upperside are inconspicuous and convex externally, delineating a broad, oval, pale purple-grey patch.

Adults are on wing in April, May and June in Costa Rica.

The larvae feed on Psychotria eurycarpa, Psychotria panamensis, Psychotria berteriana, Psychotria correae, Psychotria pittieri and Palicourea salicifolia. There are green and brown forms.