Xylophanes turbata male courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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: turbata Edwards, 1887

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DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes turbata moths (wingspan 62-63 mm) fly from Mexico to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Mexico is the specimen type locality.

There may be an occasional stray into southern Arizona.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes turbata adults may only have one flights annually. In Costa Rica moths are taken in May, June and July.

ECLOSION:

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

Xylophanes turbata 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. Males come in to lights very readily, but females are seldom taken in that way.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed on Hamelia patens and Psychotria microdon and probably other plants in the Rubiaceae family. Larvae have brown and green color morphs.

Pupae are slightly granulous, rough in outline of wing veins and are predominately dark.

Larvae are parasitized by Cryptophion inaequalipes and Thyreodon noterythro and Thyreodon atriventris of the Ichneumonidae family and also by species of the Sarcophagidae family.

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