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

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

TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, [1802] Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Neococytius Hodges, 1971 ........... Species: cluentius (Cramer, 1775)

DISTRIBUTION:

The Cluentius Sphinx, Neococytius cluentius (Wing span: 5 1/2 - 6 5/16 inches (14 - 16 cm)], flies in tropical and subtropical lowlands in the "West Indies", the specimen type locality, and from the southern U.S. (strays: north to Mississippi, northern Illinois, and southern Michigan) and
Mexico;
Belize: Corozol, Cayo, Stann Creek, Toledo;
Guatemala: Izabal (JM);
Nicaragua: Rio San Juan;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Lemon, Alajuela, Heredia, San Jose, Carthage; through
Colombia; Meta (GN);
French Guiana: Kaw;
Venezuela;
Trinidad: St. George: Arima (SN);
Peru: Junin (662-950m) to
Paraguay: San Pedro; Canindeyu;
Argentina: Salta (405m EB); Chaco; La Rioja; Misiones; Santa Fe; Tucuman; Antilles, and into
Bolivia: Santa Cruz: Andrés Ibáñez, Potrerillos del Güendá; Andrés Ibáñez; Ichilo, La Víbora; Buena Vista; Parque Nacional Amboró, Río Saguayo; Santa Cruz: Ñuflo de Chávez, Esperanza; Ichilo, Buena Vista, 750m, Sarah, 450m; Cochabamba;
Brazil: southern Maranhao; Minas Gerais; Sao Paulo (RDR); and
Uruguay.

Neococytius cluentius, La Selva, Heredia, Costa Rica,
courtesy of Robin Crain.

Robin Crain writes, "I'm a high school science teacher in Spokane, WA. On a recent trip to La Selva I came across the moth on the attached photo. The size was amazing (to me anyway) but more amazing was a behavior that the moth exhibited. I went to gently lift the side of the wing to view the bright orange spotted abdomen and the moth jettisoned a large amount of liquid from its posterior. I'm guessing it was urine or water and a defensive behavior. I jumped back and the moth remained looking just as contented as before. Any insights as to the moth species and behavior? I do have several additional pictures but the attached is the best. Thanks."

I reply, "Thanks for sharing beautiful image of Neococytius cluentius, the Cluentius Sphinx.

I suspect this moth is newly emerged from its pupal shell and probably has not even flown yet. While it the pupal stage, the developing moth was accumulating metabolic wastes which it was unable to discharge. Many Sphingidae and Saturniidae will release that waste just prior to their first flight or when disturbed. Otherwise, the fluid could be a discharge as you have suggested.

Neococytius cluentius, Itumirim, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
June 8, 2016, courtesy of Nazare Pereira Gottgtroy.

I suspect it also flies in Guyana and Suriname.

The upper side of the forewing is a grey to blurry black with pale orange to pale beigey-brown markings. The upperside of the hindwing is black with orange at the base and orangish yellow patches between the veins, forming a band across the wing.

Neococytius cluentius, resting by the side of a track near Sherwood Forest,
Portland, Jamaica, July 2004, courtesy of Tony and Pat James.

The proboscis is over nine inches long.

Both males and females come to lights.

Neococytius cluentius, female, courtesy of Hubert Mayer

FLIGHT TIMES:

Neococytius cluentius adults nectar at flowers and brood continuously, having at least three generations, in the tropics:
1) December-January;
2) May-June; (July in Jamaica)
3) October.

Andres Urbas reports a March 31, 2011, flight near KAW Mountains, French Guiana.

Neococytius cluentius, near Kaw Mountains, French Guiana,
March 31, 2011, courtesy of Andres Urbas.

Females begin flight shortly after midnight and continue til 2:30 am while males fly from 1:30-4:30 am.

In Bolivia specimens have been taken in March-April-May-June, August, October-November-December.

Vladimir Izersky reports them on the wing in Coviriali, Junin, Peru, in early September and in late November.

There is at least a February flight in French Guiana.

Gregory Nielsen reports a February 23, 2011, flight in Meta, Colombia.

Neococytius cluentius, Colombia. Depto Meta: Villavicencio-Villacentro
04°03’55.0 N 073°41’87.0 W, 500m 23- ii-2011 leg. G. Nielsen,
id and slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke

ECLOSION:

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

Neococytius cluentius courtesy of Vladimir Izersky

SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Caterpilars feed on plants in the custard apple family (Annonaceae) and the piper family (Piperaceae). Ipomoea batatas of the Convolvulaceae family has been reported as a host.

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Neococytius cluentius ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, Trinidad,
March 23, 2015, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

Neococytius cluentius ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, Trinidad,
March 23, 2015, courtesy of Steve Nanz.