Xylophanes chiron nechus, El Copan, Cartago, Costa Rica,
March 6, 2019, 1047m, courtesy of Gernot Kunz.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke
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: chiron nechus (Cramer, 1777)

Xylophanes chiron nechus courtesy of Paolo Mazzei,
Rancho Grande, H. Pittier National Park, Venezuela.

Xylophanes chiron nechus in resting pose, Yasuni, Ecuador, September 7, 2002 - 12:01 AM, courtesy of Steve Graser.

Xylophanes chiron nechus, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador, March 3-4, 2009, courtesy of Steve Ife.

Xylophanes chiron nechus, Baldi Hot Springs, Arenal Volcano Cloud Forest,
Alajuela, Costa Rica, August 11, 2013, courtesy of Graeme Davis.

Xylophanes chiron nechus final instar, Santa Rita do Sapucai, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
March 2019, courtesy of Luis F. Alberti.

The larva directly above appears to have a dark parasitoid exit or entry wound anterior to the red and black-ringed "eye-spots" near the head.

Xylophanes chiron nechus, RioGrandedoNorte, Brazil,
August 30, 2020, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Jean Marie Cadiou writes, "When I say "Xylophanes" in English I pronounce it something like "Zailophanees", with the emphasis on the "o". The French pronounce it differently, something like "Kzeelophaness" with no emphasis, and the Germans yet in a different way..."

In Greek myth, Phanes is the golden winged Primordial Being who was hatched from the shining Cosmic Egg that was the source of the universe. He personifies light emerging from chaos.

"Xylo" is the Greek word for wood.

The specimen type for the genus Xylophanes is Xylophanes anubus. Perhaps ? when Hubner examined this species, the yellow-orange and brown tones of the forewings suggested wings of wood.

The species name "chiron" comes from Greek mythology where Chiron is the wise centaur who tutors Achilles, Hercules and Asclepius. I do not know the source of the subspecies name.