DISTRIBUTION:

Syssphinx gomezi (wingspan: males: 53-57mm; females: 62mm) flies in
Mexico: Michoacan; Chiapas (CL); and probably Guerrero and Oxaca (WO).

The forewings are yellow-brown, and the red hindwing never has a strong discal spot. The outer margins of all wings are grey-white with the same colour fw transverse line and hw median line.

Syssphinx gomezi male, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Syssphinx gomezi moths are on the wing in May and August.

Larvae feed on Acacia baileyanna and Robinia pseudoacacia.

Syssphinx gomezi pair, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female Syssphinx gomezi moths "call" the males at night with an airbourne chemical attractant (pheromone). The males fly into the wind in a zigzag pattern, pick up the scent with their antennae and locate and mate with the female. She begins her ovipositing flights the following evening.

Syssphinx gomezi female, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Green translucent eggs are deposited on host plant foliage or stems. The young caterpillars are particularly well-adorned with elongated thoracic scoli which project over the head. Growth on woody, leguminous trees is rapid before mature larvae descend the tree trunks to pupate in excavated subterranean chambers.

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 Robinia pseudoacacia......

Bailey's acacia 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 "gomezi" is honourific for Luis Diego Gomez.