Madoryx oiclus, Paraguay, PYBIO

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TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839 Tribe: Dilophonotini, Burmeister, 1878 Genus: Madoryx Boisduval, 1875 ........... Species: oiclus oiclus Cramer, 1780

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DISTRIBUTION:

Madoryx oiclus oiclus (wingspan: 76-93mm, males considerably smaller than females) flies in Surinam, French Guiana and from Venezuela to Costa Rica. It is also recorded in Paraguay: Alto Paraguay, Presidente Hayes, Concepcion, San Pedro, Cordillera, Paraguari, Caaguazu and Alto Parana and Neembucu (AOC).

Madoryx oiclus, Paraguay, PYBIO

Maroyx oiclus, Pilar, Neembucu, Paraguay, courtesy of Andres Oscar Contreras.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Moths are probably on the wing in just about every month.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose, usually within three weeks, from pupae formed in relatively sturdy cocoons spun amongst leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen.

Madoryx oiclus oiclus male, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Madoryx oiclus oiclus female, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE: Larvae feed on Rehdera trinervis and Crescentia alata and spin heavy cocoons. The last instar is cream colored with dark brown and black mottling on back and sides. There are two black eye spots on the sides of thorax, giving the appearance of a snake's head. When resting larvae look like a huge inchworm.

The cocoon is dark rust brown and often incorporates leaves The cocoon is very sturdy and the pupa has a cremaster firmly attached to silk. There are three creamy orange bands on the abdomen. Moths eclose within three weeks of pupation. All images from Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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