Cocytius cluentius from Rancho Grande, H. Pittier National Park, Venezuela
courtesy of Paolo Mazzei.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Smerinthinae, Grote & Robinson, 1865 Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Cocytius Hubner, 1819 ........... Species: cluentius Cramer 1775

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DISTRIBUTION:

Cocytius cluentius (Wing span: 115 - 148 mm, males much smaller than females)], flies in the "West Indies", the specimen type locality, and from Mexico to Argentina; Antilles. The proboscis is over nine inches long.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Cocytius cluentius adults probably nectar at flowers and fly in at least two broods in Costa Rica, with moths on the wing January-February and again in July-August. This moth comes in to lights much less frequently than other Cocytius species, but both sexes appear.

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

Cocytius cluentius female from Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Colourful larvae feed on Guatteria diospyroides and probably other members of the Annonaceae family.

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