Sphingidae of Panama

Although I believe these "tribal" checklists contain only species within Panama, there may be omissions. I have composed this list from what I consider to be valid lists for Nicaragua and Venezuela.

I have added (August 28, 2007) Isognathus leachi based on the following image.

Isognathus leachi, Mogue, Darien, Panama, August 25, 2007,
courtesy of Dr. Arthur Anker, STRI.

If you have corrections to offer, please contact
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com.

Sphingini Agrius cingulata Amphimoea walkeri C. antaeus medor Cocytius duponchel Cocytius lucifer Manduca albiplaga M. diffissa tropicalis Manduca florestan Manduca lichenea Manduca rustica Manduca sexta paphus

Smerinthini Adhemarius gannascus Adhemarius palmeri Adhemarius tigrina Protambulyx eurycles Protambulyx goeldii Protambulyx strigilis

Dilophonotini Aellopos titan Call. calliomenae Callionima inuus Callionima nomius Callionima parce Enyo lugubris Enyo ocypete Enyo taedium Erinnyis alope Erinnyis crameri Erinnyis domingonis Erinnyis ello Erinnyis impunctata Erinnyis lassauxii Erinnyis obscura Erinnyis oenotrus Eupyrrhoglossum sagra Hemeroplanes ornatus Isognathus caricae Isognathus leachi Isognathus scyron Madoryx bubastus Madoryx oiclus Madoryx plutonius Nyceryx coffaeae Nyceryx ericea Nyceryx riscus Nyceryx stuarti Nyceryx tacita Pachygonidia drucei Pachygonidia hopfferi Pachygonidia martini Pachygonidia r. ribbei Pachygonidia subhamata Pachylia ficus Pachylia syces Pachylioides resumens Perigonia ilus Perigonia lusca Perigonia stulta Pseudosphinx tetrio Stolidoptera tachasara

Philampelini Eumorpha anchemolus Eumorpha capronnieri Eumorpha fasciatus Eumorpha labruscae Eumorpha obliquus Eumorpha phorbas Eumorpha satellitia Eumorpha triangulum Eumorpha vitis

Macroglossini Hyles lineata Xylophanes anubus X. ceratomioides X. chiron nechus Xylophanes crotonis Xylophanes guianensis Xylophanes loelia X. macu. maculator Xylophanes neoptolemus Xylophanes pistacina Xylophanes pluto X. porcus continentalis Xylophanes tersa Xylophanes thyelia Xylophanes titana Xylophanes turbata Xylophanes tyndarus

Pseudosphinx tetrio, Canal Zone, Panama, courtesy of Russell Bean.

Russell made some interesting observations and writes, "Hi, I found your web page when trying to find which caterpillar was eating a tree on the canal causeway in Panama, I have attached a few photos if you wanted to see them or use them, feel free. The caterpillars are all over the tree. I don’t think it will last long.

"The two things I still don’t know after looking at your web site are 1. Why don’t the birds eat and attack them. I have seen them dead on the floor and the birds still don’t eat them, are they poisonous? 2. Also what does the spike on the back do, is it a sting or just a distraction tactic so there heads don’t get attacked?"

I wrote back, "Thanks for sending pictures. The trees produce a toxic substance which does not harm the caterpillars but is absorbed into their tissues when they feed upon it. The caterpillar then becomes toxic or at least distasteful to birds and other would-be-predators.

The spike at the end is typical of many caterpillars of the Sphingidae family. The spike or anal horn is harmless and might be either a distraction or a perceived threat as you have indicated. There are some caterpillars from other families that have poisonous spines, but not this one.

Generally caterpillars with black, yellow, red colouration carry toxins."

Large numbers of caterpillars can defoliate an entire tree or bush. This usually does not fatally harm the plant provided the defoliation does not happen repeatedly (two or more years in succession).

Pachylia ficus, Canopy Tower, Soberania National Park, Panama, courtesy Jim Swalwell.

Manduca rustica, Gamboa, Panama, November 19th 2006, courtesy Jim Swalwell.

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Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.