Isognathus rimosa papayae
(Boisduval [1875])

Isognathus rimosa papayae male

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802
Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839
Tribe: Dilophonotini, Burmeister, 1878
Genus: Isognathus G. Felder & R. Felder, 1862 ...........
Species: rimosus papayae (Boisduval, [1875])

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DISTRIBUTION:

Isognathus rimosa papayae (Wing span: , females larger than males), flies in
French Guiana: Cayenne, the specimen type locality (this locality may be in question; more likely Colombia; CATE) and in
Venezuela; and
Colombia.

The forewing is strongly marked with brown over white.

The hindwing black marginal border is slightly narrower than in Isognathus rimosa inclitus.

The hindwing underside has a second postmedian line that is very prominent at the costal margin, with the antemedian line generally absent. CATE

Isognathus rimosa inclitus Edwards, 1887, flies in Mexico: Orizaba.
Isognathus rimosa jamaicensis Rothschild & Jordan, 1915, flies in Jamaica.
Isognathus rimosa molitor Rothschild & Jordan, 1915, flies in ??
Isognathus rimosa wolcotti Clark, 1922, flies in Peurto Rico: Rio Piedras.
The nominate subspecies flies in Mexico; Belize; Guatemala; probably through Central America to at least Costa Rica; Cuba: Santiago del Cuba; Holguin; Venezuela; and possibly in northern Brazil.

FLIGHT TIMES:

There are probably several flights throughout the year.

ECLOSION:

Moths emerge from pupae in thin-walled cocoons under leaf litter within 8-24 days of pupation.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at flowers, including petunia.

Isognathus rimosus papayae female

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Females probably lay eggs on leaves of Apocynacea.

Larvae have long tails; colouration suggests they are unpalatable to birds.

The pupae are also quite colourful, and, I suspect, are very lively. Moths generaly emerge witin 8-24 days of pupation.

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