Sphingidae of Barbados

Although I believe these "tribal" checklists contain only species within Barbados, there may be some omissions.

The list should be very reliable, however, as it is from Jean Haxaire's Systematic List for Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Many thanks to Tony and Pat James who have sent images and sighting data. Tony writes, June 6, 2009:

"Pat & I have just spent 10 days at a hotel, The Sugar Cane Club, Maynards, Near Speightstown on the north-west of the island, between 13th and 23rd May 2009. We chose this hotel because it was more inland than most (1.7km), and was adjacent to a wild area which could be ideal for Moth Recording. The Manager, Rod, kindly agreed to us running our moth trap on our room’s balcony, and we were allowed to select the most suitable room for our needs at the south of the property.

"Amongst the moths recorded, were 5 species of Sphingidae at this location.

"These were (in order of first arrival):

"1. Perigonia lusca: This small Sphingid was the most common here, occurring as 3 specimens on 13th May, 1 on 14th May, 3 on 16th May, and 2 on 20th May coming to our trap.

Perigonia lusca, Sugar Cane Club, Maynards, Near Speightstown, Barbados, May, 2009, courtesy of Tony and Pat James

"2. Enyo lugubris: Another common Caribbean Sphingid, but fewer were recorded here. These came in as 1 male on 13th May, 2 males on 16th May. A female was pointed out to me on the wall in the hotel lounge area by the Manager and his girl-friend on the 22nd May.

Enyo lugubris, Sugar Cane Club, Maynards, Near Speightstown, Barbados, May, 2009, courtesy of Tony and Pat James

"3. Erinnyis ello: A female of this medium sized Sphingid came to our trap on the 14th May. Whilst night-walking into the surrounding wild area on the evening of 18th May, a further specimen was found resting on a shoot of an Acacia bush at the side of the track, but I was unable to photograph it.

Erinnyis ello, Sugar Cane Club, Maynards, Near Speightstown, Barbados, May, 2009, courtesy of Tony and Pat James

"4. Xylophanes tersa: A single specimen came to the trap on the 21st May.

Xylophanes tersa, Sugar Cane Club, Maynards, Near Speightstown, Barbados, May, 2009, courtesy of Tony and Pat James

"5. Pachylia ficus: A single specimen of this large species was pointed out on the back wall of a rear open area of the Restaurant by Andrea, who works there (a lot of the staff were, by this time, interested in what we were doing), on the 22nd May as we went in for an evening meal. The meal was interrupted until I had managed to capture it.

Pachylia ficus, Sugar Cane Club, Maynards, Near Speightstown, Barbados, May, 2009, courtesy of Tony and Pat James

"A specimen of a fairly large 6th species flew around the ceiling lights of the open bar area on two nights at the beginning of the holiday, but didn’t come to rest. The odd times it swooped down, the top of the wings were almost black, and the underside was generally pale grey, but it didn’t stop long enough to be able to identify it. Wingspan was estimated at 150mm."

Sphingini Ag. cingulata Cocy. antaeus Cocy. duponchel M. r. harterti M. s. jamaicensis Neococ. cluentius

Smerinthini Prot. strigilis

Dilophonotini Aell. tantalus Enyo lugubris PTJ Erinnyis alope Erinnyis crameri Erinnyis ello PTJ Erin. lassauxii Erinnyis obscura Madoryx oiclus Pachylia ficus PTJ Pachylia . syces Perigonia lusca PTJ Pseudo. tetrio

Philampelini Eum. fasciatus Eum. labruscae E. s. licaon E. vitis fuscatus

Macroglossini X. chiron lucianus Xyloph. pluto Xylophanes tersa PTJ

Go to Main Sphingidae Index
Go to U.S. Index: Alabama to Missouri
Go to U.S. Index: Montana to Wyoming
Go to Central America Index
Go to South America Index.htm
Go to Indices of Nations