Aellopos fadus male courtesy of Dan Janzen.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839 Tribe: Dilophonotini, Burmeister, 1878 Genus: Aellopos Hubner, [1819] ........... Species: fadus Cramer, 1776

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DISTRIBUTION:

Aellopos fadus, the Fadus Sphinx (Wing span: 2 1/4 - 2 3/4 inches (5.7 - 6 cm)), flies in
Surinam:(specimen type locality); with records from
Mexico;
Belize: Stann Creek;
probably Guatemala;
probably Honduras;
probably Nicaragua: Matagalpa, Rivas, Rio San Juan;
Costa rica: Guanacaste, Alejuela, Lemon, Puntarenas;
probably Panama: Panama, Darien;
Colombia;
Ecuador: Napo, Morona-Santiago;
Peru;
Bolivia: La Paz;
Argentina: Misiones;
Venezuela;
Guyana;
Surinam;
French Guiana;
Brazil: Mato Grosso;
Paraguay;
Uruguay and the West Indies, favouring tropical and subtropical lowlands.

In the U.S. the moth is found in south Florida, south Texas and Arkansas with occasional strays into Ohio and West Virginia.

Macroglossum annulosum Swainson, 1882, Brazil, is same as Aellopos fadus
Macroglossa annulosum Balteata, Kirtland, 1851, Ohio, is same as Aellopos fadus
Sesia f. flavosignata Closs, 1916, Brazil, is same as Aellopos fadus

The body is brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. The upperside of wings is dark brown; the forewing has two bands of pale spots and lacks a black spot (typical of clavipes) at the end of the cell; the hindwing has a pale patch on the costa and one on the inner margin.

FLIGHT TIMES:

In Costa Rica moths have been taken in all months except March and September to November. The moth broods continuously in the tropics.

In Texas, Arkansas and Florida there is one flight from September-December. Adults nectar on flowers, including Abelia.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed in shallow subterranean chambers.

Aellopos fadus 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.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed on various species of the Rubiaceae (madder) family, including Genipa americana and Alibertia edulis. and Randia species.

There are at least two color morphs, a green form and a much darker, reddish-brown form:

Caterpillars pupate in loose cocoons in shallow underground chambers. Pupae are dark, smooth and shiny, and relatively thin considering the stout appearance of the moth.

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