Sphingicampa albolineata
Syssphinx albolineata
SIS-sfinkzMal-boh-LIN-ee-ah-tuh
(Grote & Robinson, 1866) Adelocephala

Syssphinx albolineata male copyright Kirby Wolfe

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.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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DISTRIBUTION: Syssphinx albolineata (wingspan: males: 51-65mm; females: 51-65mm) is seldom found in the U.S, and then only in the southernmost sections of Cameron County, Texas and Cochise County, Arizona. This moth is primarily a Mexican species: Guanajuato; San Luis Potosi; Veracruz: Jalapa; Puebla. Note greenish-yellow colouration of forewings. Syssphinx albolineata male (Mexico) courtesy of Dr. Manuel A. Balcazar Lara

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing from April until November with as many as three broods in Mexico.

Little is known about this species and suspected natural hosts are Acacia, Mimosa and Leucaena.

April, June, July, September and October sightings exist from U.S. localities.

Syssphinx albolineata male, Sabal Palm Grove, Cameron County, Texas,
57mm, 24 June 1984, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

Syssphinx albolineata male, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Syssphinx albolineata female, Sabal Palm Grove, Cameron County, Texas,
67mm, 24 June 1984, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

These moths come in to lights so it is expected that scenting and mating also take place after dark.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Eggs are green and translucent and are deposited in short rows of four to eight on foliage or stems. Caterpillar development can be seen through the eggshell. Larvae are gregarious in early instars and have enlarged thoracic scoli with metalic markings that reflect light on the abdominal scoli. This species is closely related to S. raspa and it is believed development patterns are the same. The natural conditions of a hot, humid environment should be used to rear larvae.

Larvae descend hostplants at maturity to pupate in deeply excavated (up to six inches) subterranean chambers.

Syssphinx albolineata larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

Larval Food Plants

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 angustissima........ Acacia baileyana Leucanaea pulverulenta Robinia pseudoacacia

Prairie acacia Bailey's acacia Giant leadtree Black locust/false acacia

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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.

The genus name "Syssphinx" was probably chosen for the similarity of these moths (wing shape and resting position) to moths in the Sphingidae family.

The species name "albolineata" is for the distinct white ante and postmedial lines.