DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes maculator maculator (wingspan: 65-75mm, males generally smaller than females) moths fly in
Venezuela (specimen type locality), and generally from
Mexico: Quintana Roo (BT) and elsewhere; and Belize to Ecuador and further south to ?? Bolivia.

Xylophanes maculator male, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
courtesy of Ben Trott.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes maculator maculator adults fly in April, June-July-August-September, November-December in Costa Rica and probably have an even more extended season.

Xylophanes maculator maculator courtesy of Matthew Barnes.

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.

Xylophanes maculator maculator courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on plants of the Rubiaceae (Psychotria nervosa, Psychotria horizontalis) and Malvaceae and Fabaceae (Inga vera) and Dilleniaceae ( Tetracera volubilis) families.

Green and brown larval forms seem to chose appropriate hiding/roosting places to best blend in with surroundings.

Xylophanes maculator maculator larvae have a gray black last instar instead of the brown of Xylophanes anubus. Maculator eyes are black with a blue-white dot so that they look crossed; there is a dull yellow eye ring. The tail is black with swelling at base. Fine yellow dots are wide-spaced on body.

Xylophanes maculator third instar on Psychotria horizontalis,
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, courtesy of Ben Trott.

Xylophanes maculator fifth instar on Psychotria horizontalis,
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, courtesy of Ben Trott.

Xylophanes maculator maculator courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Moths emerge approximately three weeks after larvae pupate.

Xylophanes maculator male pupa, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
courtesy of Ben Trott.

Xylophanes maculator male pupa, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
courtesy of Ben Trott.

Xylophanes maculator male pupa, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
courtesy of Ben Trott.

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