DISTRIBUTION:

Syssphinx digueti (wingspan: males: 53-58mm; females: 70-79mm) flies in Mexico: Baja California Sur; San Jose del Cabo; with no records of specimens taken in the U.S.

Note the straight postmedian line.

FLIGHT TIMES AND FOODPLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in September-October and again in January, suggesting at least two broods. Larvae feed on Acacia baileyana and Gleditsia triacanthos.

Syssphinx digueti, Baja California Sur, Mexico, courtesy of Kaia.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males are smaller and slightly more colourful.

Syssphinx digueti (female) courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Syssphinx digueti female, Mexico, courtesy of Leroy Simon

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Females deposit light green eggs either singly or in pairs on hostplant foliage. Warm weather results in a very short incubation time of five days. Some larvae mature (55 mm) in under three weeks while others from the same batch progress much less rapidly. Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Pupation is in shallow chambers under the soil. Reared pupae should not be subjected to freezing temperatures.

Syssphinx digueti fifth instar, Mexico, courtesy of Leroy Simon

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 baileyana Gleditsia triacanthos.......

Bailey's acacia/Golden wattle Honeylocust

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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 "digueti" is honourific for Diguet.