Updated as per personal communication with Johan van't Bosch (Mato Grosso, Brazil, September 13), March 2008

Pachylia ficus
Fig Sphinx

Pachylia ficus 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: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839
Tribe: Dilophonotini, Burmeister, 1878
Genus: Pachylia Walker, 1856 ...........
Species: ficus Linnaeus, 1758

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Fig sphinx, Pachylia ficus (Wing span: 4 3/4 - 5 1/2 inches (12 - 14 cm)) flies from Uruguay and Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to Florida, southern Texas, and southern Arizona. It occasionally strays as far north as Indiana and Pennsylvania.

The upperside of the forewing is orangish brown with a paler patch along the costa at the tip.

The upperside of the hindwing is orange to orangish brown with a black outer border, a black median band, and a white spot on the outer margin near the body.

Pachylia ficus Yasuni, Ecuador, (September 10, 2002 - 11:55 PM) in typical resting pose, courtesy of Steve Graser.

FLIGHT TIMES:

There are several flights throughout the year in the tropics, peninsular Florida, and southern Texas. Johan van't Bosch reports a September flight in Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Adult like to nectar from flowers, including Asystasia gangetica, starting just before sunset.


Pachylia ficus, female, Bonaire, January 28, 2005,
courtesy of Abraham Potappel, via Diane McIntyre.

ECLOSION:

Larvae pupate in thin walled cocoons under leaf litter.

Pachylia ficus 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.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Females feed and lay eggs on fig leaves, especially Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea). Ficus carica, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus religiosa, Ficus pumila, Ficus gamelleira, Ficus prinoides, Ficus pumila and Artocarpus integrifolia are also listed as hosts.

Larvae pupate in cocoons spun amongst leaf litter.

There are several colour morphs.

Image, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, April 2004, courtesy of Lee Snyder.

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