Xylophanes cthulhu

Xylophanes cthulhu
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Xylophanes
Species: X. cthulhu
Binomial name
Xylophanes cthulhu
Haxaire & Vaglia, 2008

Xylophanes cthulhu is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from lowland rainforest in Guatemala and Costa Rica.[1]

The wingspan is 76–82 mm. It is similar to Xylophanes neoptolemus but distinguishable by the overall brighter colour and the more acutely falcate tip of the forewing, a pure black basal area to the hindwing and a golden yellow band between the first and fourth postmedian lines on the forewing underside

Adults are on wing year round in Costa Rica.

The larvae feed on Ludwigia species. They have a snake-like appearance. The head and the three thoracic segments can be retracted into abdominal segment one, which is swollen and adorned with a pair of light-ringed grey eye-spots.

References

  1. "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2011-10-25.


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