Aellopos fadus
Aellopos fadus, the Fadus sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1776.
Fadus sphinx | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Sphingidae |
Genus: | Aellopos |
Species: | A. fadus |
Binomial name | |
Aellopos fadus | |
Synonyms | |
|
Distribution
It lives in Central America and the northern part of South America.
Description
The wingspan is 57–60 mm. The body is brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. The upperside of the wing is dark brown and the forewing has two bands of pale spots and lacks a black spot at the end of the cell. The hindwing has a pale patch on the costa and one on the inner margin.[2]
- Male dorsal
- Male ventral
- Female dorsal
- Female ventral
Biology
Adults are on wing year round in the tropics. They feed on nectar from various flowers, including Abelia species.
![](../I/m/Alibertia_edulis.jpg)
The larvae feed on various Rubiaceae species, including Genipa americana, Alibertia edulis and Randia species. There are at least two color morphs, a green and a reddish-brown form. Pupation takes place in loose cocoons in shallow underground chambers. The pupae are dark, smooth and shiny.
References
- "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- "Aellopos fadus The Fadus Sphinx". Silkmoths. Archived from the original on 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
External links
- Lotts, Kelly & Naberhaus, Thomas (2017). "Fadus sphinx Aellopos fadus (Cramer, 1776)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved November 19, 2018.