Xylophanes adalia male courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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: Macroglossini, Harris, 1839 Genus: Xylophanes Hubner [1819] ........... Species: adalia Druce, 1881

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DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes adalia moths [wingspan 55-56 mm, females larger than males] fly in Panama (specimen type locality) and Costa Rica and north to southeastern Belize and Mexico.

Hubert Mayer indicates they fly as far south as Ecuador.

"Similar to Xylophanes depuiseti and Xylophanes ploetzi. Forewing apex less extended than in Xylophanes depuiseti; distal margin not distinctly sinuous between M3 and 1A+2A. Underside of body and wings more golden-yellow (yellowish green in Xylophanes depuiseti and Xylophanes ploetzi). Lines on forewing upperside more distinct than in Xylophanes depuiseti, especially the oblique apical line; a roughly square, black patch present between M2 and M3, distal to outermost postmedian line; fringe white spotted to apex, not restricted to posterior part of wing as in Xylophanes depuiseti and Xylophanes ploetzi." CATE

Xylophanes adalia male, La Union del Toachi, Ecuador,
January, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes adalia adults fly in January in Ecuador and may have a much more extensive flight season there and elsewhere.

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

Xylophanes adalia female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Males come in to lights very readily, but females are seldom taken in that way.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae probably feed on Psychotria panamensis and Psychotria nervosa of the Rubiaceae family and on Pavonia guanacastensisof the Malvaceae family.

Moths emerge approximately one-two months after larvae pupate.

Images courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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.

Jean Marie Cadiou writes, "When I say "Xylophanes" in English I pronounce it something like "Zailophanees", with the emphasis on the "o". The French pronounce it differently, something like "Kzeelophaness" with no emphasis, and the Germans yet in a different way..."

In Greek myth, Phanes is the golden winged Primordial Being who was hatched from the shining Cosmic Egg that was the source of the universe. He personifies light emerging from chaos.

"Xylo" is the Greek word for wood.

The specimen type for the genus Xylophanes is Xylophanes anubus. Perhaps ? when Hubner examined that species, the yellow-orange and brown tones of the forewings suggested wings of wood.

In the Bible, Adalia is one of Haman's sons. The word means noble one. It is also a Hebrew name, meaning "God is my refuge". I believe it is also the name of a city in Ancient Greece.

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