DISTRIBUTION:

Syssphinx jasonoides (wingspan: males: 75-89mm; females: larger) flies in
Colombia: Valle, at elevations of 1600-1800m.

The male forewing is very triangular with a relatively sharp point.

Jean-Marc Gayman sends the following images from Calderon, Esmeraldas, Ecuador, from much lower elevation (100m) than Lemaire records for S. jasonoides in Valle, Colombia. I do not have an image (confidently identified) of Syssphinx bidens (HT from Venezuela) for comparison. I do not think it is a good match for any of the Adeloneivaia species known from western Ecuador. Other opinions are welcomed.

Syssphinx bidens/jasonoides ?, Calderon, Esmeraldas, Ecuador,
December 7, 2013, 100m, courtesy of Jean-Marc Gayman

Syssphinx bidens/jasonoides ?, verso, Calderon, Esmeraldas, Ecuador,
December 7, 2013, 100m, courtesy of Jean-Marc Gayman

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Syssphinx jasonoides moths are probably on the wing from April with second and third broods following throughout the summer.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Syssphinx jasonoides moth females deposit light green eggs either singly or in pairs 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. 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 "jasonoides" is probably ?? related somehow to the story of Jason and the Argonauts, and could also be for the similarity of this moth to Adeloneivaia jason.