Updated as per http://www.pybio.org/SPHINGINAE.htm (Paraguay), October 2007
Updated as per More, Kitching and Cocucci's Hawkmoths of Argentina 2005, October, 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Ezequiel Osvaldo Núñez Bustos (Salto Encantado, Misiones, Argentina, September 28, 2010); May 14, 2012
Updated as per personal communication with Sergio D. Ríos Díaz in CATÁLOGO DE LOS SPHINGIDAE (INSECTA: LEPIDOPTERA) DEPOSITADOS EN EL MUSEO NACIONAL DE HISTORIA NATURAL DEL PARAGUAY; sent to me in July 2014 by Sergio D. Ríos Díaz.
Updated as per personal communication with Ezequiel Bustos (Shilap revta. lepid. 43 (172) diciembre, 2015, 615-631 eISSN 2340-4078 ISSN 0300-5267), January 4, 2016

Xylophanes porcus
(Hübner, [1823])


Xylophanes porcus, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

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: Macroglossini, Harris, 1839
Genus: Xylophanes Hubner [1819] ...........
Species: porcus Hubner, [1823]

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Porcus Sphinx Moth, Xylophanes porcus [wing span: 2 7/8 - 3 3/8 inches (7.3 - 7.9 cm)] flies in
southern Brazil;
Paraguay: Presidente Hayes, Concepcion, Canindeyu, San Pedro, Alto Parana, Cordillero, Paraguari, Guaira, Caazapa, (probably Caaguazu and Itapua (WO??));
Argentina: Misiones: Loreto (95m); Encantado (EB);
north to Cuba and south Florida.

Ezequiel Bustos reports it is subspecies continalis that flies in Argentina.

Florida is the specimen type locality.

It probably flies through most of Central America.

Guatemala: Izabal (JM);
Belize: Corozol, cayo, orange Walk, as subspecies continentalis.


Xylophanes porcus male, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Xylophanes porcus male, Salto Encantado, Misiones, Argentina,
September 28, 2010, courtesy of Ezequiel Osvaldo Núñez Bustos.

The upperside of the forewing is olive-brown with lighter brown along the outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is brown with some paler spots.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes porcus has been recorded on the wing in every month except March in Costa Rica. There are several broods from April-August. This species has been taken in Argentina in January

ECLOSION:


Xylophanes porcus female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Xylophanes porcus, Grande Papagayo, north-west coast of the Tamarindo Peninsula, Costa Rica,
near Panama, September 15-17, 2008, courtesy of Tony James.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed at dusk and at night on Hamelia patens, Psychotria chiapensis, Psychotria horizontalis, Psychotria microdon, Psychotria pubescens, P. hebeclada and Palicourea grandifolia in the madder family (Rubiaceae). During the day, larvae hide near the base of their hosts or in surrounding vegetation.

Moths emerge from pupae in 14-25 days.

Larva and pupa images courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Larvae are subject to parasitization by Drino sp. 6 of the Tachinidae family.

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Ezequiel Bustos image:
Colección de Lepidoptera Proyecto DNA Barcodes Lepidoptera Argentina
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ¨Bernandino Rivadavia¨ (MACN)
Av. Angel Gallardo 470 (1405)
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
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