Aellopos tantalus zonata??, Mexico, courtesy of Manuel Balcazar-Lara.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

I am not sure if the moth from Mexico is nominate tantalus or tantalus zonata. I think subspecies zonata, which flies as far north as Florida, is more of a Caribbean species.

Aellopos tantalus zonata courtesy of Paul Opler.

Aellopos tantalus zonata, Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida, December 22, 2008,
courtesy of Kevin and Shelby Heeter, id confirmed by James P. Tuttle.

TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839 Tribe: Dilophonotini, Burmeister, 1878 Genus: Aellopos Hubner, [1819] ........... Species: tantalus zonata Drury, 1773

DISTRIBUTION:

Aellopos tantalus zonata, (wingspan: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.7 cm)), flies in St. Kitts and in Mexico???.

The body is reddish brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. The forewing upperside is reddish brown with a black cell spot and 3 white spots near the gray marginal area. A pale streak runs from the cell spot to the inner margin of the wing. The hindwing upperside is dark brown.

Aellopos tantalus zonata, Dominican Republic,
May 24, 2007, courtesy of Sarah Kickler Kelber

FLIGHT TIMES:

This species broods continuously in the tropics and in Florida.

Adults nectar on flowers, including white stopper (Eugenia axillaris), lantana, flamevine and golden creeper/beach creeper/cough bush ( Ernodea littoralis).

Aellopos tantalus zonata nectaring on Draceana fragrans, Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida, December 22, 2008,
courtesy of Kevin and Shelby Heeter, id confirmed by James P. Tuttle.

Aellopos tantalus zonata nectaring on Draceana fragrans, Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida, December 22, 2008,
courtesy of Kevin and Shelby Heeter, id confirmed by James P. Tuttle.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose in the morning from pupae formed in cocoons in shallow subterranean chambers or under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Yellow-green, translucent eggs are usually deposited singly on new foliage or buds in the early afternoon.

Within a few days, the deleloping larva can be seen through the eggshell. Newly emerged larvae feed on tender, new leaves until they have developed a bit.

Larvae feed on seven year apple, Casasia clusiifolia, and probably other plants in the madder family. They have been reported on Indigo-berry (Randia aculeata).

Aellopos tantalus zonata fifth instar, North Key Largo, Monroe County, Florida,
copyright/courtesy of James P. Tuttle.

Caterpillars pupate in loose cocoons in shallow underground chambers or in leaf litter.

Pupae are dark, smooth and shiny, and relatively thin considering the stout appearance of the moth.

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