SYSSPHINX MOLINA (CRAMER, 1780)

Female Syssphinx molina courtesy of Chris Conlan.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelcom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Ceratocampinae, Harris, 1841 was Syssphinginae: Packard, 1905 Genus: Syssphinx, Hubner [1819] 1816

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DISTRIBUTON:

The Syssphinx molina moth flies at high altitudes in Mexico through Ecuador and across to French Guyana.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Syssphinx molina larvae feed upon Bailey's acacia (Acacia baileyana), Silk tree (Albizia adinocephala), Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), Rain tree (Pithecellobium saman), Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Sallow/Goat willow (Salix capraea).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae (quadripectinate for basal 2/3rds) to locate females at night by tracking her airbourne pheromone plume.

The falcate, sphinx-like wings of the male are evident in the image above.

OVA, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

First instar larvae are well-equipped with thoracic "horns" after emerging from translucent green ova. These enlarged scoli will diminish in size relative to body as the caterpillar passes through five instars.

Larvae have the dorsal scoli and resting pose typical of Ceratocampinae. This larva will shortly descend the tree to excavate a deep subterranean chamber in which to pupate. There is also a green form.

Because of their preference for deep pupation, Syssphinx molina larvae should be placed in buckets with six inches of light, slightly moist potting soil. The larvae will dig, frequently to the bottom of the bucket, looking for a suitable pupation site.

Listed below are the 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 Albizia adinocephala Gleditsia triacanthos Pithecellobium saman Robinia pseudoacacia...... Salix capraea

Bailey's acacia Silk tree Honeylocust Rain tree Black locust Sallow/Goat willow

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