Amphonyx lucifer lucifer from Rancho Grande, H. Pittier National Park, Venezuela
courtesy of Paolo Mazzei.

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TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, [1802] Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Amphonyx Poey, 1832 ........... Species: lucifer lucifer Rothschild and Jordan, 1903

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DISTRIBUTION:

Amphonyx lucifer lucifer (Wing span: 14 - 16 cm], flies in tropical and subtropical lowlands in Mexico, specimen type locality, and generally from Belize: Corozol, Orange Walk, Cayo, Toledo; and Guatemala: Izabal (JM); Nicaragua: Jinotega, Rio San Juan, and probably Matagalpa, Boaca, Chontales; Costa Rica: Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Lemon, Alajuela, Heredia, San Jose; south through Venezuela: Aragua, Bolivar, Carabobo, Lara, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia; to Brazil; Bolivia; Paraguay: San Pedro; Guaira; Canindeyu; Argentina: Misiones and Ecuador: Orellana. This picture was taken in Yasuni, Ecuador, September 7, 2002 - 1:33 AM, by Steve Graser. In Bolivia it has been observed in Santa Cruz: Florida, Mataral; Ichilo, La Víbora; La Paz: Murillo, Río Zongo, 750m; Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz.

This species is now listed as Amphonyx lucifer, but was once classified as a Cocytius species, and probably will be listed as Cocytius lucifer for some time. Recently Amphonyx has been resurrected as a genus due to significant differences in genitalia between Cocytius and Amphonyx species.

CATE: "Thorax upperside with black markings prominent against the greyish green ground colour. Markings of the upperside, marginal area of the hindwing, and the underside of the wings often more or less walnut brown. Abdomen upperside with mesial line usually prominent, but sometimes faint or widely interrupted.

"Forewing upperside with dark streaks posterior to veins M3 and CuA1 well marked, though often narrow."

Amphonyx lucifer male, 147mm, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Amphonyx lucifer lucifer adults nectar at flowers and brood continuously in the tropics. In Costa Rica moths have been recorded in all months except perhaps March.

In Bolivia there are records for March-April and June.

ECLOSION:

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

Amphonyx lucifer 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.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Caterpilars feed on Annona purpurea and Desmopsis schippii and probably other species in the custard apple family (Annonaceae).

The larvae are clear green and white, with no lavendar at all and no hairs. They attain lengths of 118 mm with a 19 mm diameter. The prepupa is green with a rose stripe down its back. There are green and blue-green colour morphs.

Eclosions generally occur 40-45 days after pupation.

Amphonyx lucifer fifth instar (out of six), Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
courtesy of Ben Trott.

Ben Trott sends the Amphonyx lucifer/duponchel image posted above. He writes, "Found in its 5th instar just before going into its 6th instar. It died because of parasites and didn't manage to shed its skin. I was about to ID this larva thanks to its last instar, but never got the chance, I've been searching Annona reticulata ever since, with no luck, this species is not as common as C. antaeus, and probably quite rare."

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