DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes aglaor moths fly in Brazil (specimen type locality) and west to
Bolivia: Santa Cruz: Ñuflo Chávez, Esperanza.

"Most similar to Xylophanes libya but generally darker and more contrastingly patterned, and with a characteristic dark brown inner edge to the tegulae and lunate subapical spot on the forewing underside.
Inner margin of tegula dark brown (as in Xylophanes maculator and Xylophanes lichyi).
Forewing upperside as in Xylophanes libya but: ground colour darker; wing covered with scattered black scales; all five postmedian lines (including the doubled first) generally equal in thickness, but sometimes the fourth or the fifth line slightly heavier.
Marginal band of forewing underside with basal dark patch more extensive than in Xylophanes libya, Xylophanes loelia and Xylophanes neoptolemus, covering more than half the wing, exceeding the second, and usually the third, postmedian line on the inner margin and often almost reaching the fourth; area between first and fourth postmedian lines yellow, contrasting with the more orange coloration on either side (similar to the condition in Xylophanes neoptolemus but less distinct); black subapical spot on the costa distinctly lunate. Median band of hindwing upperside narrower than in Xylophanes libya, with a consequently broader marginal band." CATE

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes aglaor adults fly????

ECLOSION:

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

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Males come in to lights very readily, but females are seldom taken in that way.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on Psychotria panamensis and Psychotria nervosa of the Rubiaceae family and on Pavonia guanacastensisof the Malvaceae family.

Moths emerge approximately one-two months after larvae pupate.

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 that species, the yellow-orange and brown tones of the forewings suggested wings of wood.

The species name "aglaor" might refer to a fairie tale Prince Aglaor who slays an ogre for the Princess's hand.

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