Eumorpha phorbas
Updated as per AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE SPHINGIDAE OF BOLIVIA, October 2007
Updated as per http://biological-diversity.info/sphingidae.htm (Belize), November 2007
Updated as per Fauna Entomologica De Nicarauga, November 2007
Updated as per The Known Sphingidae of Costa Rica, November 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Jose Monzon (Guatemala); May 2009

Eumorpha phorbas
you-MOR-fuhmmFOR-buhs
(Cramer, 1775) Sphinx

Eumorpha phorbas female 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:

Superfamily: Sphingoidea, Dyar, 1902
Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802
Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839
Tribe: Philampelini, Burmeister
Genus: Eumorpha, Hubner, [1807]
Species: phorbas, (Cramer, 1775)

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DISTRIBUTION:

Eumorpha phorbas (wingspan 112-116 mm) flies in Surinam and in
Mexico;
Belize: Cayo;
Guatemala: Izabal (JM);
Nicaragua: Zelaya, Rio San Juan;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Heredia, Limon, San Jose, Alajuela.

I suspect there are populations in the other Central American countries.

In South America it is confirmed in Surinam;
Ecuador: Orellana; and
Bolivia: La Paz, Santa Cruz. I suspect it is also in Venezuela, Guyana, eastern Columbia and northwestern Brazil.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Eumorpha phorbas broods continuously with adults on the wing every month of the year in Costa Rica and along the west coast of South America as far south as Bolivia.

Adults nectar at various flowers. Eumorpha phorbas larvae probably feed upon grapes (Vitaceae), dogbane (Apocynaceae), or evening primrose (Onagraceae) families.

Eumorpha phorbas in resting pose, Yasuni, Ecuador, September 7, 2002 - 2:40 AM, courtesy of Steve Graser.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Eumorpha phorbas male courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

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.

Vitaceae .......

Vitaceae

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