Syssphinx raspa
SIS-sfinkzMRAS-puh
(Boisduval, 1872) Adelocephala

Syssphinx raspa courtesy of Chris Conlan.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Ceratocampinae, Harris, 1841 was Syssphinginae: Packard, 1905 Genus: Syssphinx, Hubner [1819] 1816

MIDI MUSIC "Wonderful.World" copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="world.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Syssphinx raspa or Sphingicampa raspa (wingspan: males: 52-62mm; females: 63-78mm) is found in Mexico: Oaxaca, and seldom strays into U.S., although specimens are taken in extreme southern Arizona and southwestern Texas. Differences in genitalia separate this species from albolineata.

Copper Canyon, habitat for S. raspa, courtesy of Russell Witkop.

Syssphinx raspa male, Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, Arizona,
22 July 1991, 58mm, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordeon and Ed Knudson.

Syssphinx raspa male, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Syssphinx raspa female, Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, Arizona,
22 July 1991, 63mm, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordeon and Ed Knudson.

Syssphinx raspa female, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel>

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Syssphinx raspa moths fly from late July to early August. Some specimens taken in mid September suggest at least a partial second brood. The preferred host plant is Acacia angustissima.

Syssphinx raspa female courtesy of Viktor Suter copyright

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Syssphinx raspa moths tend to eclose in the evening with scenting and mating occuring the next night (in captivity) between 8:00 and midnight. In the wild, males most often come in to lights between 1:00 and 3:00 am suggesting an early morning mating period.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Green translucent eggs incubate from 9-11 days and larvae, well-equipped with extensive, elongated scoli, mature (60 mm) in three-and-a-half to four weeks. Photo courtesy of Chris Conlan.

This species pupates under very dry soil in a chamber fashioned with silk and debris. Pupae should not be subjected to freezing temperatures and a light sprinkling of soil once a month will help prevent dessication.

Syssphinx raspa larva, courtesy of Viktor Suter copyright

Larval Food Plants

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 angustissima Gleditsia triacanthos Gleditsia X texana Paraserianthes lophantha......

Prairie acacia Honey locust Texas honey locust Brush wattle

Return to Syssphinx Index

Return to Main Index

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 "raspa" is a word for 'fish backbone' and may refer to the combination of thin white lines crossing the wider white transverse line, resembling somewhat a fish backbone.

Syssphinx raspa pair, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.