Updated as per Hawkmoths of the World, Kitching and Cadiou, 2000, January 9, 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Tomas Melichar, January 9, 2011

Erinnyis pallida
Pallid Sphinx
Grote, 1865

Erinnyis pallida male, Cuba, courtesy of Tomas Melichar.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802
Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839
Tribe: Dilophonotini, Burmeister, 1878
Genus: Erinnyis Hubner, [1819] ...........
Species: pallida Grote, 1865

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Pallid sphinx, Erinnyis pallida (Wing span: 2 3/16 - 2 9/16 inches (5.6 - 6.5 cm)), flies in Cuba.

It was at one time equated with Erinnyis obscura.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Erinnyis pallida probably broods continuously in Cuba.

During the night adults nectar at flowers, probably including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed in loose cocoons spun among surface litter. Pupal stage can be as few as fourteen days.

Erinnyis pallida female, Cuba, courtesy of Tomas Melichar.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults begin feeding at sunset.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on various plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae): Rauvolfia ligustrina, Rauvolfia tetraphylla, Stemmadenia obovata, Philibertia, Cynanchum, and on papaya (Carica papaya, Caricaceae), and Asclepiadaceae. Some plants in the spurge family are probably also used.

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