Xylophanes ceratomioides courtesy of Paolo Mazzei,
Rancho Grande, H. Pittier National Park, Venezuela.

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: Macroglossini, Harris, 1839 Genus: Xylophanes Hubner [1819] ........... Species: ceratomioides (Grote & Robinson, 1867)

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Brown and Yellow Sphinx Moth, Xylophanes ceratomioides [wingspan: 3 1/2 - 3 13/16 inches (8.6 - 9.6 cm)] flies in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, French Guiana;
Bolivia: Santa Cruz: Ichilo, La Víbora; La Paz: Sud Yungas, Yanacachi; Murillo, Zongo Chuchulluni; Caupolican, Mamacona, Apolo; Cochabamba: Carrasco, Chapare; Chapare, Yunga del Espíritu Santo;
Paraguay: San Pedro, Canindeyu, Cordillera, Central, Guaira, Alto Parana (probably Caaguazu (WO??));
Argentina and Venezuela, down into southern Brazil.

Mexico is the specimen type locality.

Xylophanes ceratomioides, north Misiones Province, Argentina,
December 2005, courtesy of Oz Rittner.

In the United States it is sometimes taken in southern Arizona.

The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with dark brown markings in the basal area, and diagonally from near the apex to the center of the inner margin. There is a small dark cell spot. The outer margin is distinct, set off from the rest of the wing by a pale subterminal line.

The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with tan bands.

Xylophanes ceratomioides, Septimo Paraiso Lodge, Mindo, Pichincha Province, Ecuador,
March 4, 2005; 4,200' elevation, courtesy of Robert Behrstock.

Choerocampa minas Menetries, 1857, French Guiana, is same as Xylophanes ceratomioides.
Anceryx capreolus Schaufuss, 1870, Venezuela, is same as Xylophanes ceratomioides.

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Jean Marie Cadiou writes, "When I say "Xylophanes" in English I pronounce it something like "Zailophanees", with the emphasis on the "o". The French pronounce it differently, something like "Kzeelophaness" with no emphasis, and the Germans yet in a different way..."

In Greek myth, Phanes is the golden winged Primordial Being who was hatched from the shining Cosmic Egg that was the source of the universe. He personifies light emerging from chaos.

"Xylo" is the Greek word for wood.

The specimen type for the genus Xylophanes is Xylophanes anubus. Perhaps ? when Hubner examined this species, the yellow-orange and brown tones of the forewings suggested wings of wood.

The origin of the species name "ceratomioides" is unknown to me, but in the Greek "cerato" and "cera" both refer to horn. I think there is also the possibility there may be a connection to golden or yellow.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes ceratomioides has been recorded on the wing in every month in Costa Rica. There are at least three broods in Peru: January-February, June-July, and October.

ECLOSION:

Xylophanes ceratomioides male 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. The females do come in to lights but not nearly as often as the males.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae feed on Psychotria berteriana, Psychotria correae, Psychotria microdon and Hamelia patens in the Rubiaceae family.

The caterpillar is very dark, has a small cream eye on each side and a lighter gray-brown patch around each spiracle. There is also a green colour morph.

Moths emerge from pupae in 17-35 days. Larva and pupa images courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Larvae are subject to parasitization by Meteorus congregatus of the Braconidae family.

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