Jim Sogaard writes, April 19, 2009,

"I just visited your sphingids site and noticed that while you correctly list Orecta venedictoffae for Ecuador where it was originally encountered, you failed to list it for Costa Rica. That photo (courtesy of Dan Janzen) was taken by yours truly at Estacion Pitilla in Guanacaste Conservation Area of NW Costa Rica about 1998 or so (I have the exact year and approximate date, if you wish). I found it hanging in vegetation along a trail during the day, far from any lights. I did not recognize it for what it was, but lowered it to the ground and photographed it, which photo startled Dan when it came before his eyes months later. I believe this was/is only the second "scientific" record (and a good ways from Ecuador). Also, to my knowledge, it has not been seen again since. There is no Costa Rica voucher specimen, only this photo. I have heard that the area of Ecuador where it was found is (like Guanacaste) also reasonably well sampled, so it is apparently either very rare and/or impervious to lights.

"No one was more surprised by any of this than me!"

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Sphingoidea, Dyar, 1902 Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, 1802 Tribe: Smerinthini, Grote & Robinson, 1865 Genus: Orecta, Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 Species: venedictoffae, Cadiou, 1995

DISTRIBUTION:

Orecta venedictoffae flies in Ecuador and Costa Rica. Apparently it is very rare, or at least it is rarely encountered at lights.

I would also expect it to be in Panama and Colombia in suitable habitat.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Orecta venedictoffae adults are on the wing in mid June or early July" (JS) in Costa Rica, and possibly at other times..

Orecta venedictoffae larval hosts are unknown.

Orecta venedictoffae female, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate 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.

Return to Main Sphingidae Index

Return to Smerinthini Index

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

Enjoy one of nature's wonderments: Live Saturniidae (Giant Silkmoth) cocoons.

Show appreciation for this site by clicking on flashing butterfly to the left. The link will take you to a page with links to many insect sites.