DISTRIBUTION:

Syssphinx yucatana (wingspan: males: 42-56mm; females: 59-71mm) flies in Yucatan, Mexico: Yucatan and Quintana Roo and in Nicaragua (JMM), and therefore probably in Guatemala (WO) and Honduras (WO).

Jean Michel Maes no longer (March 2007) lists this species for Nicaragua. Hence Guatemala and Honduras placements are also in question.

Syssphinx yucatana male, Yucatan, Mexico,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Syssphinx yucatana moths are on the wing in June and July.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Syssphinx yucatana moths tend to eclose in the evening with scenting and mating probably occuring the same night between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Syssphinx yucatana females deposit light green eggs either singly or in short rows on hostplant foliage. Eggs are translucent and caterpillar development can be seen through the eggshell. Warm weather results in a very short incubation time of five days. Larvae mature at various rates and have the enlarged thoracic scoli typical of Syssphinx. Silver, metallic markings reflect light at night. Pupation is in a subterranean chamber with eclosions following in as little as two weeks.

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.

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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 "yucatana" is indicative of specimens being taken in Yucatan, Mexico.