Xylophanes loelia male courtesy of Paolo Mazzei.

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: loelia Druce, 1878

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DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes loelia moths (Wing span: 72 mm) fly from southwestern Belize to Costa Rica and Panama to Peru to
Bolivia: Beni: Yacuma (300-800m); Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz (350m);
Argentina: Misiones: Iguazu.

They may also be in Paraguay: (possibly Itapua (WO??)).

heinrichi Closs, 1917, Peru, is the same as Xylophanes loelia.

Xylophanes loelia male, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

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..."

"Xylophanes" sounds like it is from Greek mythology.

Loelia may have been chosen for Laelia, one of the vestal virgins.

Forewing shape, particularly the apex and outer margin, distinguishes X. loelia (top) from X. libya (bottom) in the Hubert Mayer image below.

Xylophanes libya male (top), Xylophanes libya male (bottom),
courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes loelia, adults probably brood continuously with pupae emerging after rains. In Costa Rica moths have been taken in every month of the year.

ECLOSION:

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

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Males come in to lights very readily, but females are seldom taken in that way.

Xylophanes loelia female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on Psychotria horizontalis, Psychotria nervosa, and Psychotria microdon of the Rubiaceae family.

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