Manduca pellenia male 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: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, [1802] Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Manduca Hubner, 1807 ........... Species: pellenia Herrich-Schaffer, 1854

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DISTRIBUTION: Manduca pellenia (Wing span: (107 - 126 mm)), flies in "Tropical America", given as the specimen type locality. The moth can be found in Mexico; Belize: Toledo; Nicaragua: Jinotega, Rio San Juan; Costa Rica: Puntarenas, Alajuela, Lemon, Heredia, Guanacaste, San Jose, Carthage; probably Panama; Colombia: Ecuador. I believe the specimen to the right from Yasuni, Ecuador, September 7, 2002 - 2:06 AM, courtesy of Steve Graser is M. pellenia, but it could also be M. scutata scutata.

FLIGHT TIMES:

In Costa Rica there is probably only one generation annually with moths on the wing in from September until November.

Manduca pellenia three males and one female, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

Manduca pellenia female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Dan Janzen specifies Solanum hayesii and Cestrum megalophyllum. First instar larvae hide on underside mid vein where they are well camouflaged.

Larvae excavate subterranean chambers where they pupate on their backs. Adults emerge about 38-45 days after pupation.

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