DISTRIBUTON:

The Syssphinx gomezi moth (wingspan mm; males smaller than females)

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Syssphinx gomezi moths are on the wing from

Larvae feed on Acacia baileyanna and Robinia pseudoacacia.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female Syssphinx gomezi moths "call" the males at night with an airbourne chemical attractant (pheromone). The males fly intothe wind in a zigzag pattern, pick up the scent with their antennae and locate and mate with the female. She begins her ovapositing flights the following evening.

OVA, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Green translucent ova are deposited on host plant foliage or stems. The young caterpillars are particularly well-adorned with elongated thoracic scoli which project over the head. Growth on woody, leguminous trees is rapid before mature larvae descend the tree trunks to pupate in excavated subterranean chambers.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Acacia baileyana Robinia pseudoacacia......

Bailey's acacia Black locust/False acacia

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