DISTRIBUTION: Xylophanes guianensis (approximate wingspan: males 88mm; females: 105mm) fly in Guyana (specimen type locality) and Venezuela and east to Suriname; French Guiana: Saint Jean de Maroni; Kaw: Brazil: Para; south to Bolivia: Santa Cruz: Ichilo, El Chore. Xylophanes guianensis moths rest with wings closed, revealing streamlined head, thorax and abdomen.

The two outer lines run parallel to the median line along the entire length of the abdomen, whereas in X. ceratomioides, the outer lines converge towards the anterior margin of each abdominal segment, giving a chevroned appearance.

CATE: "Similar overall to Xylophanes ceratomioides. Outer margin of forewing margin much more strongly scalloped than in Xylophanes ceratomioides.

"Dorsal lines of abdomen as in Xylophanes xylobotes, (not posteriorly divergent and expanded into small, black, triangular patches on each tergite as in Xylophanes ceratomioides).

"Costa of forewing upperside with several conspicuous subapical and apical black spots, the largest subapical spot quadrate; most distal antemedian line and most basal postmedian line meet on inner edge of forewing upperside; postmedian lines clearly visible within the postmedian area, almost straight, except toward inner edge of wing (not scalloped as in Xylophanes ceratomioides); pale brown excavated area on outer margin of postmedian band narrow (more so than in Xylophanes xylobotes), rectangular and not well defined due to the visible presence within it of the third, fourth and fifth postmedian lines.

Pale bands of hindwing upperside intermediate in coloration between those of Xylophanes ceratomioides and Xylophanes xylobotes."

Xylophanes guianensis, Kaw Mountains, French Guiana,
March 31, 2011, courtesy of Andres Urbas.

Xylophanes guianensis, Kaw Mountains, French Guiana,
April 6, 2011, courtesy of Andres Urbas.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes guianensis adults probably fly as multiple broods. Andres Urbas reports a March 31, 2011, flight near Kaw Mountains, French Guiana.

Xylophanes guianensis

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Males come in to lights very readily, but females are seldom taken in that way.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on Psychotria panamensis and Psychotria nervosa of the Rubiaceae family and on Pavonia guanacastensisof the Malvaceae family.

Moths emerge approximately one-two months after larvae pupate.

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Xylophanes guianensis male, French Guiana, on my home computer only.

Xylophanes guianensis female, French Guiana, on my home computer only.

Xylophanes guianensis, French Guiana, on my home computer only.

Xylophanes guianensis female, French Guiana, November 15, 2009.