Xylophanes cosmius cosmius
zail-AH-fan-eesmmKAHS-mee-uhs
Rothschild & Jordan, 1906

Xylophanes cosmius male, Peru, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

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TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839 Tribe: Macroglossini, Harris, 1839 Genus: Xylophanes Hubner [1819] ........... Species: cosmius cosmius Rothschild & Jordan, 1906

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DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes cosmius cosmius moths (forewing length=40-45mm) fly in
Ecuador: Napo: Misahualli;
Peru (specimen type locality);
Bolivia: Beni: Yacuma, (300-1000m); and into
western Brazil.

Xylophanes cosmius male, Beni, Bolivia, 1000m, courtesy of Jean Haxaire.

Xylophanes cosmius male (verso), Beni, Bolivia, 1000m, courtesy of Jean Haxaire.

This species is very similar to amadis and docilis but is larger than either and has a much deeper inward curve at the apex of the forewing.

Xylophanes cosmius, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador, March 3-4, 2009, courtesy of Steve Ife.

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..."

"Xylophanes" sounds like it is from Greek mythology.

I am not sure of the origin of "cosmius".

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes cosmius cosmius adults fly as at least three broods in Peru with moths on the wing in January-February, July and October.

Steve Ife reports an early march flight in Ecuador.

Cosmius comes readily to lights with females flying from 10:00pm until 1:00 am and males flying from 11:30pm until 2:00am.

Xylophanes cosmius courtesy of John Vriesi.

ECLOSION:

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

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 plants in the Rubiaceae family and Malvaceae families.

Moths emerge approximately one-two months after larvae pupate.

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