DISTRIBUTION:

The Syssphinx distigma (Sphingicampa distigma) moth (wingspan mm; males smaller than females) flies in Illinois.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Syssphinx distigma moths are on the wing from

Larvae feed on Acacia baileyanna and Robinia pseudoacacia.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female Syssphinx distigma moths "call" the males at night with an airbourne chemical attractant (pheromone). The males fly into the wind in a zigzag pattern, pick up the scent with their antennae and locate and mate with the female. She begins her ovapositing flights the following evening.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Bicolored Honey Locust Moth females deposit light green ova either singly or in pairs on hostplant foliage. Warm weather results in a very short incubation time of five days. Some larvae mature (55 mm) in under three weeks while others from the same batch progress much less rapidly. Image courtesy of Leroy Simon displays the enlarged thoracic scoli typical of Syssphinx. Silver, metallic markings reflect light at night.

Larvae seem relatively disease free and this is an easy species to rear in captivity.

Pupation is in shallow chambers under the soil with eclosions following in as little as two weeks.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Acacia baileyana Robinia pseudoacacia......

Bailey's acacia Black locust/False acacia

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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.

The genus name "Syssphinx" was probably chosen for the similarity of these moths (wing shape and resting position) to moths in the Sphingidae family.

The species name "distigma" is indicative of the two white spots on each forewing.