Cocytius mortuorum

Cocytius mortuorum
koh-SIT-ee-usmm mor-chew-OR-um
Rothschild and Jordan, 1910

Cocytius mortuorum male, Peru, courtesy of Jean Haxaire

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: Sphinginae, Latreille, [1802]
Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802
Genus: Cocytius Hubner, [1819] ...........
Species: mortuorum Rothschild and Jordan, 1910

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DISTRIBUTION:

Cocytius mortuorum [(Wing span: approximately 130-140mm, males smaller than females)], flies in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia: La Paz: Murillo, Río Zongo, 750m.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Cocytius mortuorum adults nectar at flowers and probably brood continuously. Specimens are reported from October and November in Peru.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on Guatteria diospyroides, Annona purpurea, Annona reticulata, Xylopia frutescens and Custard apple (Annona glabra) and probably other members of the Annonaceae family.

Moths emerge from pupae in as few as 21 days from pupation.

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