DISTRIBUTON:

Eumorpha megaeacus, the Eacus Sphinx (wing span: 4 1/8 - 4 3/4 inches (10.5 - 12.1 cm)), flies in Surinam and probably throughout most of Central and South America to southern Brazil, and west to Bolivia: Beni: Yacuma (300-800m).

Occasionally a stray is taken in Texas.

Mexico;
Nicaragua: Rio San Juan;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Alajuela, Limon, Heredia, Cartago.

The moth's upperside is brown with indistinct dark and yellow-brown markings. A yellow-brown band runs parallel to the inner margin from the base almost to the outer margin on the forewing.

Until very recently this moth was previously most often incorrectly refered to as Eumorpha eacus.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Eumorpha megaeacus adults are on the wing from February-March, May-July and again from September-October in Costa Rica.

Eumorpha megaeacus larvae feed at night upon Jussiaea species and upon members of the primrose family (Onagraceae).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Pupae wiggle to surface just prior to eclosion. Females call at night, and males fly into the wind to pick up and track the pheromone plume.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larvae feed on Jussiaea species in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae).

Eumorpha megaeacus, dorsal view, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

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