Amphonyx duponchel
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Amphonyx duponchel , specimen |
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| Amphonyx duponchel | ||||||||||||
| Poey , 1832 |
Amphonyx duponchel ( Syn .: Cocytius duponchel ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of swarmers (Sphingidae).
features
The moths reach forewing lengths of 58 to 80 millimeters. The species is similar to Cocytius antaeus , but it is larger and only has a brownish-gray marbling on the forewings instead of a dark blue-green sheen. The similar species also has a tooth-like scaling between the wing veins into the transparent areas of the hind wings, which Amphonyx duponchel lacks in the transparent area. The transparent area lies in front of the M1 vein and is shorter than the black marginal band that is widened in the M1 vein. The area ends sharply at the black band. The yellow spot at the base of the hind wings is partly clearly divided by the black band. The forewings have inconspicuous black lines in the disk area between the veins M3 and CuA2. The dirty-white discal spot is kidney-shaped and lies obliquely on the forewings. The coloring of the species is uniform, but the females show more white parts in their coloring.
The caterpillars are yellow-green and have showy, sloping, blue-green stripes on the sides. Unlike Cocytius antaeus , they are hairless. These features allow a good demarcation from the caterpillars of this similar species. The rearmost sloping shoulder is white and bluish to the rear. One or two white diagonal stripes run roughly in the middle of the body. A brown longitudinal line runs along the back.
distribution and habitat
The species is neotropically distributed and occurs in large parts of northern South America, in Central America and on the Antilles , particularly common in Jamaica . To the south, it spreads to Tucumán in northern Argentina and Minas Gerais in southern Brazil. In the United States, the species occurs only as an occasional stray visitor.
Way of life
The moths can be observed when visiting flowers. They are attracted to artificial light sources at night. The species reproduces all year round.
Flight and caterpillar times
Adults have been recorded in Bolivia from March to April and from June to December.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on Guatteria diospyroides , Annona purpurea , Annona reticulata , Annona glabra and Xylopia frutescens and probably also on other annonaceae .
development
Pupation takes place in the ground. The pupae probably come to the surface by jerky movements before the moths hatch. The puppet rest is about three weeks.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g Sphingidae of the Americas. Bill Oehlke, accessed December 16, 2011 .
- ↑ a b c d e f James P. Tuttle: The Hawkmoths of North America, A Natural History Study of the Sphingidae of the United States and Canada. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, DC 2007, ISBN 978-0-9796633-0-7 .
literature
- James P. Tuttle: The Hawkmoths of North America, A Natural History Study of the Sphingidae of the United States and Canada. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, Washington, DC 2007, ISBN 978-0-9796633-0-7 .
