Manduca pellenia male courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Manduca pellenia, 140mm, Pana EL Lanoto Carti, PK 11, Panama, Panama,
July 5, 2016, 300m, courtesy of Galerita Janus, id by Bill Oehlke.

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TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, [1802] Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Manduca Hubner, 1807 ........... Species: pellenia Herrich-Schaffer, 1854

DISTRIBUTION: Manduca pellenia (Wing span: (107 - 140mm)), flies in "Tropical America", given as the specimen type locality. The moth can be found in Mexico; Belize: Toledo; Guatemala: Izabal (JM); Baja Verapaz (TS); Nicaragua: Jinotega, Rio San Juan; Costa Rica: Puntarenas, Alajuela, Lemon, Heredia, Guanacaste, San Jose, Cartago; probably Panama: Panama (GJ); Colombia: Ecuador: Morona-Santiago: Macas. I believe the specimen to the right from Yasuni, Ecuador, September 7, 2002 - 2:06 AM, courtesy of Steve Graser is M. pellenia, but it could also be M. scutata scutata.

Antenna almost as stout as in Manduca sexta. Abdomen underside shaded with brown scales, especially in the male. Foretarsus with 1st segment externally with 4 or 5 moderately long spines and numerous small ones above them. No pulvillus. Forewing upperside with discal, black, pubescent patches heavy, forming a band that is strongly angled near vein M3; the oblique, black apical line and the posterior part of the black postdiscal line both very heavy; submarginal zigzag line creamy buff rather than white; the cells between veins M3 and CuP more or less russet between the discal band and postdiscal line. CATE

Manduca pellenia, El Copan, Cartago, Costa Rica,
March 6, 2019, 1047m, courtesy of Gernot Kunz.

Manduca pellenia, El Copan, Cartago, Costa Rica,
March 6, 2019, 1047m, courtesy of Gernot Kunz.

Manduca pellenia, El Copan, Cartago, Costa Rica,
March 6, 2019, 1047m, courtesy of Gernot Kunz.

FLIGHT TIMES:

In Costa Rica there are probably at least two generations annually with moths on the wing in from March to May and September until November. Galerita Janus reports an early July flight in Panama.

Manduca pellenia three males and one female, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

Manduca pellenia, Los Ranchitos Lodge, 3km S Purulha, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala,
June 1, 2015, 1675m, 109mm, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION:

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

Manduca pellenia female 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. Adults nectar at flowers.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Dan Janzen specifies Solanum hayesii and Cestrum megalophyllum. First instar larvae hide on underside mid vein where they are well camouflaged.

Manduca pellenia third instar, 28mm, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Manduca pellenia third instar, 38mm, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen, pparasitoid entry wounds.

Manduca pellenia fourth instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Manduca pellenia fifth instar, 50mm, August 9, 1998, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Manduca pellenia fifth instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Manduca pellenia fifth instar (dark form), Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Larvae excavate subterranean chambers where they pupate on their backs. Adults emerge about 38-45 days after pupation.

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Manduca pellenia, Costa Rica, May 21, 2006,
91m, courtesy of Gernot Kunz.

Manduca pellenia, Costa Rica, May 21, 2006,
91m, courtesy of Gernot Kunz.