Xylophanes pluto, Mexico, courtesy of Manuel Balcazar-Lara.

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: pluto (Fabricius, 1777)

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DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes pluto moths (Wing span: 2 1/16 - 2 9/16 inches (5.3 - 6.5 cm)) fly in
Bolivia: Santa Cruz, La Paz;
Paraguay: Presidente Hayes, Concepcion, San Pedro, Canindeyu, Alto Parana, Cordillera, Caaguazu, Paraguari, Guaira, Caazapa (probably Central and Itapua (WO??);
Argentina: Corrientes, Jujuy, Tucuman;
tropical and subtropical lowlands (as high as 1500m in Argentina) from Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to Florida and South Texas. Antilles is the specimen type locality.

Xylophanes pluto 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..."

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

"Xylophanes" sounds like it is from Greek mythology, and Pluto, in Greek mythology, is the lord of Hades, the underworld.

The upperside of the forewing is olive green with a paler median band and pale lines with purple shading along them. The upperside of the hindwing has a white spot surrounded by black at the base, a wide orangish yellow median band, and a brown to greenish band along the outer margin. Xylophanes pluto in a typical resting pose to the right. Xylophanes pluto, Boca Raton, Florida, courtesy of Alan Chin-Lee.

FLIGHT TIMES:

The Pluto sphinx, Xylophanes pluto, has several flights throughout the year in Florida and South Texas, and it broods continuously in the tropics.

Xylophanes pluto south Texas, ex pupa, courtesy of Mike van Buskirk

ECLOSION:

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

Xylophanes pluto ventral, south Texas, ex pupa, courtesy of Mike van Buskirk

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at a variety of flowers including wild verbena and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larvae feed on Milkberry (Chiococca species), Firebush (Hamelia patens), Indian Mulberry (Morinda royoc) and Erythroxylon species. Generally larvae feed on plants in the Ruciaceae family. There are three known colour morphs: green, brown, and purple/brown. The false eyes are rather striking in this purple/brown form. Larvae feed beginning at dusk and through the night, hiding during the day at the base of their host plant or in nearby surrounding vegetation. The caterpillars usually either consume entire leaves or half of a leaf.

Pentas should be added to the foodplant list as I received these images of Xylophanes pluto feeding on pentas from Miami, Florida, December 7, 2004, courtesy of Lesli Radcliffe.

Green form in third instar.

Xylophanes pluto pupa, courtesy of Mike Van Buskirk.

Xylophanes pluto pupa, courtesy of Mike Van Buskirk.

Parasitoids include Drino species, Belvosia species and other members of the Tachinidae family.

Visit Xylophanes pluto, from Edinburg, Hidalgo County, via Mike Quinn, courtesy of Cat Traylor.

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