DISTRIBUTION:

Xylophanes depuiseti moths (forewing length=mm) fly in Brazil (specimen type locality) and probably into Paraguay.

"Similar to Xylophanes adalia and Xylophanes ploetzi. Upperside olive green; abdomen with two rows of very feeble brown dots dorsally; each side with a row of pale, more-or-less golden apical dots. Outer spur of midtibia shorter than, or almost the same length, as inner spurs. Olive green; subbasal and antemedian lines present, but the latter or both vestigial; discal spot conspicuous, black; three thin, parallel, postmedian lines present, curving towards the costa anteriorly, the second faint, the third accentuated by minute vein dots; oblique apical line vestigial; faint submarginal line present posteriorly, ending at hind angle; fringe posteriorly conspicuously dotted with white, giving a false impression of a dentate margin. Fringe conspicuously dotted with white, giving a false impression of a dentate margin." CATE website.

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 this species, the yellow-orange and brown tones of the forewings suggested wings of wood.

The species name "depuiseti" is honorific for the Parisian lepidopterist, Louis M. A. Depuiset who was a friend of Jean Baptiste Alphonse Boisduval.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Xylophanes depuiseti adults probably fly as at least two-three broods.

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.

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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