Xylophanes cthulhu

Xylophanes cthulhu is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is known from lowland rainforest in Guatemala and Costa Rica.[1]

Xylophanes cthulhu
Xylophanes cthulhu, male, upperside. Costa Rica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Xylophanes
Species:
X. cthulhu
Binomial name
Xylophanes cthulhu
Haxaire & Vaglia, 2008

The wingspan is 76–82 mm. It is similar to Xylophanes neoptolemus but distinguishable by the overall brighter colour and the more acutely falcate tip of the forewing, a pure black basal area to the hindwing and a golden yellow band between the first and fourth postmedian lines on the forewing underside

Adults are on wing year-round in Costa Rica.

The larvae feed on Ludwigia species. They have a snake-like appearance. The head and the three thoracic segments can be retracted into abdominal segment one, which is swollen and adorned with a pair of light-ringed grey eye-spots.

References

  1. "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. 2010-10-27. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-25.


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