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Updated as per CATE Sphingidae (Texas, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil); April 28, 2011 Updated as per personal communication with Pia Oberg (Urruca Lodge, Jorupe NP, Loja, Ecuador, February 17, 2011); December 1, 2011 Updated as per personal communication with Vadim Kroutov (correction to id of moth from Belize); June 10, 2014 Updated as per personal communication with Tony James (Radisson, Panama, Panama, 122mm, April 19, 2015); May 6 2015 |
Eumorpha satellitia satellitia male, Jamaica, courtesy of Vernon A. Brou.
This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
TAXONOMY:Superfamily: Sphingoidea, Dyar, 1902 |
Subspecies Eumorpha satellitia licaon has a much wider distribution in
Mexico;
Belize: Cayo;
Guatemala: Izabal (JM);
to
Venezuela: Monagas (MG);
Ecuador: Loja (PO);
Peru;
further south into Bolivia;
Brazil (not nominate satellitia): Rio de Janeiro: Petropolis; and
Uruguay.
Eumorpha satellitia licaon, October 24, 2005,
Hidalgo County, Texas, courtesy of Mike Quinn.
CATE: "A conspicuous spot behind the eye. Tegulae with large, brown, lateral patches. Abdomen upperside with a series of indistinct patches along
the midline, each tapering anteriorly, not forming a single distinct line (as in Eumorpha satellitia posticatus).
"Forewing upperside largely brown, dusted with paler scales, the pattern not as vivid as Eumorpha satellitia posticatus; posterior margin medially with a
distinct, dark brown rhombiform patch (rather than triangular as in Eumorpha satellitia posticatus), the area between it and the wing base slightly darker
than the ground colour; a further, triangular dark patch on the posterior margin at the tornus; a less distinct subapical triangular patch on the costa;
a double black discal spot present; CuA1 conspicuously paler than the ground colour.
"Hindwing upperside basally buff, inner margin same colour (not pink as in Eumorpha analis and Eumorpha satellitia posticatus); a series of dark
brown or black submarginal black spots near the tornus between CuA1 and 1A, but not continued towards costa as a distinct line
(as in Eumorpha satellitia posticatus), so that inner edge of marginal band is diffuse.
"Male: A pinkish tone all over."
For Eumorpha satellitia licaon CATE indicates, "Somewhat variable in ground colour but generally greyer than Eumorpha satellitia satellitia and never as green as Eumorpha pandorus. Hindwing upperside inner margin marked with a few red scales."
Eumorpha satellitia licaon, Urruca Lodge, Jorupe National Park, Loja, Ecuador,
February 17, 2011, courtesy of Pia Oberg.
Eumorpha satellitia licaon, Pook's Hill Reserve, Cayo District, Belize,
June 23, 2006, courtesy of Brant Reif, id by Vadim Kroutov.
In E. triangulaum there is almost always a thick, dark, comma-shaped tail extending from base of the trapezoidal patch into, at least, the next intraneural section of wing.
Mauricio Gomes reports a licaon December flight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Eumorpha satellitia satellitia larvae feed upon Cissus pseudosicyoides and Cissus rhombifolia. Adults feed from flowers including petunia (Petunia hybrida), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), and white campion (Lychnis alba).
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 satellitia licaon in typical restiong pose. Image courtesy of James Adams. |
Females lay translucent green eggs singly on leaves of the host plant. This egg is about to hatch.The anal "horn" is visible through the shell. This image and the following images (courtesy of Dan Janzen) represent specimens from Costa Rica, and shouild be subspecies licaon. |
Larvae get quite large and consume copious amounts of foliage. Missing leaves and droppings on the ground, are quick clues that one of the Eumorpha species is on a vine. Parasites take a high toll. |
When disturbed, the larva quickly retracts the head and thorax.White stripes are elongate and smooth, not irregular as in achemon or more circular as in pandorus. |
Pupation is underground and pupal stage usually lasts five-six weeks before eclosion. The pupa is long and slender with a long cremaster. |
Cissus pseudosicyoides.......
| Treebine
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Eumorpha satellitia licaon, Jalpan, Queretaro, Mexico, July 21, 2007, courtesy of Jim Conrad.
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