SYSSPHINX OR SPHINGICAMPA

Female Syssphinx molina courtesy of Chris Conlan.

SYSSPHINX (HUBNER, 1819)

SPHINGICAMPA (WALSH, 1864)

In Saturniidae Mundi Sphingicampa is listed as a junior subjective synonym for Syssphinx. Other taxonomists list Sphingicampa and Syssphinx as two distinct genera. In either case, species in these genera belong to the Subfamily Ceratocampinae in the Family Saturniidae.

Moths are medium sized and nocturnal and females deposit transparent green ova on hostplant foliage. Early instar larvae are gregarious, well adorned with enlarged thoracic scoli, and feed on woody legumes. Pupation is in a relatively deep subterranean chamber excavated by the larvae. Adult males come in to lights much more readily than do females.

At rest, both sexes fold their wings over their bodies as do Sphingids.

The preferred generic classification is listed in brown after the range.This is to help with identification as you will find many incorrect listings on the internet as well as in texts. This listing represents a compilation of what is on the internet. Listings without a genus are uncertain. Click on the blue hypertext for images and information about listed species.

Listing of Syssphinx

albolineata Grote & Robinson, 1866, Texas - Mexico Syssphinx
anthonilis Boisduval, Ecuador Citioica
apollinairus Dognin,
argyracantha Boisduval,
arpi Schaus, 1892, Mexico, Brazil, Schausiella
bicolor Harris, 1841, eastern 2/3 U.S. Syssphinx
bidens Rothschild, 1907, Ecuador Syssphinx
bidus Peru
bilineata Burmeister,
bisecta Lintner, 1879, eastern 1/2 U.S. Syssphinx
blanchardi Ferguson, 1971, Texas - Mexico Syssphinx
brevis Walker, 1855, Neotropical S.A., Oiticella
cadmus Boisduval,
colla Dyar, Costa Rica, Syssphinx
colloida Dyar, 1925, Equatorial S. A., Syssphinx
crispula Dognin, Psilopygida
distigma Walsh, 1864, Syssphinx
fallax Boisduval, 1872, Ecu.,Ven., Peru, Bra., Adeloneivaia
flavosignata Walker, 1855, Ecu., Ven., Bra., Bol., Peru, Adelowalkeria
formosa Dognin,
gomezi Lemaire, Syssphinx
heiligbrodti Harvey, 1877,Texas-Mexico Syssphinx
hemirhodia Rothschild,
hodeva Druce, 1904, Equatorial S.A., Othorene
hoegei Druce,
hubbardi Dyar, Texas - California, Mexico Syssphinx
invalida Schaus, 1892Neotropical S.A., Adelocephala
irrorata Schaus, 1900, Mex., Belize, Guatemala, Peru Adeloneivaia
jason Boisduval, 1872, Mexico to French Guyana Adeloneivaia
lilacina Schaus,
mexicana Boisduval, Costa Rica Syssphinx
modena Dyar,
molina Cramer, 1780, Ecuador to French Guyana Syssphinx
montana Packard, 1905, Arizona - Mexico Syssphinx
ocellata Peru
pelias Rothschild, 1907, Neotropical S. A., Adeloneivaia
petersi Peters, Syssphinx
purpurascens Schaus, 1905, Equatorial S.A., Othorene
quadrilineata Grote & Robinson, 1867, Mexico to Venezuela Syssphinx
quadrilineata occlusa Dognin, 1916 Ecuador Syssphinx
raspa Boisduval, 1872, Arizona - Texas, Mexico Syssphinx
rubicunda Fabricius, 1793, eastern 1/2 U.S. Dryocampa
tristigma Boisduval, 1872, Neotropical South America, Peru Adelowalkeria
verana Schaus, 1900, Equatorial S.A., Othorene
xanthina Lemaire, 1984, Guatemala Syssphinx

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