Updated as per The Known Sphingidae of Costa Rica, November 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Jose Monzon (Guatemala); May 2009
Updated as per CATE (French Guiana,; Para, Brazil): February 6, 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Gregory Nielsen (Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia, January 31, 2011, 500m); February 6, 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Jose Ramon Alvarez Corral (Bolivar, Venezuela); May 27, 2012; ongoing

Isognathus scyron

Isognathus scyron, male, Costa Rica, 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: Dilophonotini, Burmeister, 1878
Genus: Isognathus G. Felder & R. Felder, 1862 ...........
Species: scyron Cramer, 1780

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DISTRIBUTION:

Isognathus scyron (Wing span: 72-73mm; females: 87mm), flies in
Surinam, the specimen type locality; and in
French Guiana: Belizon;
Cuba;
Costa Rica;
Guatemala (JM).

I believe it also flies in Colombia: Meta (GN);
Guyana; and
Brazil: Para.

It might also fly in Panama and Venezuela: Bolivar (JRAC), and there are likely also populations in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Bands on upperside of abdominal distinct. Upperside of thorax and forewings russet-drab-brown. Underside of abdomen dirty white or slightly buff, faintly speckled with russet scales. Outer half of forewing upperside with grey vein-streaks, interrupted by black dots. Forewing upperside with black dash between M3 and CuA1, and another smaller one between CuA1 and CuA2, these dashes situated in a pale russet area that is not clearly defined though obvious, being most distinct between M1 and M3.

The female's forewing uppersides lack the black dashes but have the russet area well marked. CATE

FLIGHT TIMES:

There are probably several flights throughout the year. Moths are on the wing continuously in Costa Rica.

ECLOSION:

Moths emerge from pupae in thin-walled cocoons under leaf litter within 8-24 days of pupation.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at flowers, including petunia.

Isognathus scyron, female, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Isognathus scryon female, Villavicencio, Km 13 via Acacias, Meta, Colombia,
04°03’55.0 N 073°41’87.0 W, January 31, 2011, 500m, courtesy of Gregory Nielsen,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Females probably lay eggs on leaves of Apocynacea.

Larvae have long tails; colouration suggests they are unpalatable to birds.

The pupae are also quite colourful, and, I suspect, are very lively. Moths generaly emerge witin 8-24 days of pupation.

Isognathus scryon St. Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana,
courtesy of Antoine Guyonnet, id by Jean Haxiare.

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