Syssphinx paraxanthina
SIS-sfinkzMpah-ruh-zan-THEE-nuh
Brechlin & Meister 2014

Syssphinx paraxanthina HT male, Linda Vista, Matagalpa, Nicaragua,
59mm, September 13, 2006, 1470m, on my home computer only.

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 paraxanthina (wingspan: males: 59mm; females: mm // fwl: males: 27-29mm; females mm) flies in
Nicaragua: Matagalpa: Linda Vista; and
Honduras: Lempira: San Manuel; at elevations near 1470m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in May-June and September. There may be additional flight months.

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

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 probably 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.

Larvae probably descend hostplants at maturity to pupate in excavated subterranean chambers.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated 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 "paraxanthina" is indicative of a great similarity to and relationship with S. xanthina.