Eumorpha capronnieri
Updated as per AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE SPHINGIDAE OF BOLIVIA, October 2007
Updated as per More, Kitching and Cocucci's Hawkmoths of Argentina 2005, October, 2007
Updated as per Fauna Entomologica De Nicarauga, November 2007
Updated as per The Known Sphingidae of Costa Rica, November 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Johan van't Bosch (Mato Grosso, Brazil, September 10), March 2008
Updated as per CATE; (Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil); February 13, 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Andres Urbas (near Kaw Mountains, French Guiana, April 1, 2011); April 19, 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Johan van't Bosch (Stoelmanseiland, Sipaliwini, Suriname, July 23, 2011), November 21, 2012
Updated as per personal communication with Albert Thurman (Cerro Chucanti, Darien, Panama, August 22-24, 2012); March 17, 2013
Updated as per personal communication with Steen Hjorth (near Una, Bahia, Brazil, August 20, 2016); August 23, 2016
Updated as per personal communication with Fernando Vaca (larva, Yasuni, Napo, Ecuador, December 2, 2017); December 3, 2017

Eumorpha capronnieri
you-MOR-fuhMkagh-PRON-nee-air-eye
(Boisduval, [1875]) Philampelus

Eumorpha capronnieri, Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Mato Grosso, Brazil,
September 10, 2007, 71m, courtesy/copyright of Johan van't Bosch.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Sphingoidea, Dyar, 1902
Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802
Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839
Tribe: Philampelini, Burmeister
Genus: Eumorpha, Hubner, [1807]
Species: capronnieri, (Boisduval, [1875])

DISTRIBUTION:

Eumorpha capronnieri (wingspan 102-106 mm) flies from
French Guiana: Kaw, Saul;
Suriname: Sipaliwini District: Stoelmanseiland (JvB); to
southern Nicaragua: Rio San Juan, Zelaya;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Limon, Alajuela, Heredia; and
Panama: Darien: Chucanti (AT); southwards to
Ecuador: Orellana (SG); Napo;
Bolivia: Beni: Yacuma (1000-1700m);
northern Argentina; not present in Argentina; Ezequiel Bustos.

Eumorpha capronnieri, Cerro Chucanti, Darien, Panama,
August 22-24, 2012, courtesy of Albert Thurman.

Eumorpha capronnieri (verso), Cerro Chucanti, Darien, Panama,
August 23-25, 2012, courtesy of Albert Thurman.

It is also likely present in
Colombia;
Venezuela;
Tobago;
probably Trinidad;
Guyana: Georgetown;
Peru: Merced;
Brazil: Amapa, Roraima, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia, Acre, Mato Grosso (JvB), Bahia (SH).

Eumorpha capronnieri, Kaw Mountains, French Guiana,
April 1, 2011, courtesy of Andres Urbas.

Eumorpha capronnieri is somewhat similar to Eumorpha phorbas, but capronnieri has a distinct forewing upperside pattern of mottled green and brown areas. The forewing apex is slightly more produced and pointed in capronnieri.

Note the outward extensions of dark green-brown stripes on abdominal tergites 5 and 6.

Eumorpha capronnieri, Stoelmanseiland, Sipaliwini District, Suriname,
July 23, 2011, courtesy of Johan van't Bosch.

"Eumorpha" means well-formed. The species is probably named after a friend, collector or colleague. In such cases, practice is to say the name followed by an "eye".

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Eumorpha capronnieri male, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Eumorpha capronnieri broods continuously with adults on the wing every month of the year, except March, in Costa Rica. Johan van't Bosch reports a September flight in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and a July flight in Suriname. Albert Thurman reports an August flight in Panama. It probably also flies in other months. February and August flights have been reported in French Guiana. Steen Hjorth reports and August flight in Bahia, Brasil.

Eumorpha capronnieri, near Una, Bahia, Brasil,
August 20, 2016, courtesy of Steen Hjorth, id by Bill Oehlke.

Adults nectar at various flowers. Eumorpha capronnieri larvae probably feed upon grapes (Vitaceae), dogbane (Apocynaceae), or evening primrose (Onagraceae) families.

Eumorpha capronnieri Yasuni, Ecuador, September 6, 2002 - 9:33 PM, by Steve Graser.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Pupae wiggle to surface just prior to eclosion. Females call at night, and males (below) fly into the wind to pick up and track the pheromone plume.

Eumorpha capronnieri male courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Eumorpha capronnieri female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants


Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Eumorpha phorbas or E. capronnieri fifth instar, Yasuni Biosphere Reserve,
Napo, Ecuador, December 3, 2017, courtesy of Fernando Vaca,
tentative id by Jean Haxaire as either phorbas or capronnieri.

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