DISTRIBUTION:

Isognathus caricae (Wing span: , females larger than males), flies from Costa Rica to Bolivia and Brazil with "America" given as the specimen type locality. Carlot Didier report them from French Guiana.

Isognathus caricae male, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

FLIGHT TIMES:

There are probably several flights throughout the year. The specimen courtesy of Frederik Goussey was taken in November.

ECLOSION:

Moths emerge from pupae in thin-walled cocoons under leaf litter within 8-24 days of pupation.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at flowers, including petunia.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE: Females probably lay eggs on leaves of Apocynacea. Himatanthus obovatus, Allamanda cathartica and Allamanda schottii have been reported as a host. Larvae have long tails; colouration suggests they are unpalatable to birds.

Dark prepupal Isognathus caricae larva, French Guiana,
courtesy of Antoine Guyonnet

Isognathus caricae moth from larva above, St. Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana,
courtesy of Antoine Guyonnet

The pupae are also quite colourful, and, I suspect, are very lively. Moths generaly emerge witin 8-24 days of pupation.

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Isognathus caricae, Bahia, Brazil, courtesy of Matthew Harvey, id by Bill Oehlke, confirmed by Jean Haxaire.