DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes hannemanni (wingspan: 68-83 mm, females larger than males) flies in the
Atlantic regions of Mexico (specimen type locality) Hidalgo,
Guatemala,
(probably Honduras)
Nicaragua,
Costa Rica and
Panama: Chiriqui, and further south through
Colombia,
Venezuela: (Barinas (JRAC));
Ecuador,
Peru, to
Bolivia: Cochabamba: Chapare, Yunga del Espíritu Santo, La Paz: Murillo, Río Zongo, (750m).

Very similar to Xylophanes germen but outer margin of forewing smooth (except for some specimens from Peru and Bolivia, in which the outer margin may be slightly crenulate) and somewhat concave. CATE

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestions" at the top of the page are merely suggestions. They are based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names. In some cases I have anglicized the pronunciations as per more common usage.

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

The species name "hannemanni" is honorific for Dr. H. J. Hannemann.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes hannemanni adults fly probably produce at least three broods annually. Adults are taken in every month of the year in Costa Rica.

ECLOSION:

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

Xylophanes hannemanni 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. Males come in to lights very readily, but females are seldom taken in that way.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed on Psychotria panamensis, Psychotria correae, Psychotria horizontalis, Psychotria eurycarpa, Psychotria elata and Psychotria nervosa and Palicourea padifolia and Coussarea austin-smithii of the Rubiaceae family and on Thalia geniculata of the Marantaceae family.

The "eyespots" are barely noticeable in second instar larvae and usually do not become evident until third or fourth instar.

Larvae have a very broad tail when seen from the side. The eyes do not bulge, have blue at the top of the yellow, pink center, black ring, yellow general, and black on side of tail slash.

Moths emerge approximately twenty-one days to two months after larvae pupate, but some will "overwinter", emerging in March after pupating in July.

Larvae are subject to parasitization by Thyreodon white of the Ichneumonidae family and by Drino sp. 3 and Siphona sp. 6 of the Tachinidae family.

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