Xylophanes turbata

• Interesting Facts
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Interesting Facts

Description

Family Sphingidae

'The Sphingidae belong to the Superfamily Sphingoidea. Members of this family are commonly called "hummingbird," "sphinx," or "hawk" moths, and some can be mistaken for hummingbirds. Most are medium to large moths, with heavy bodies; wingspread reaches 5 inches or more in some species. The Sphingidae are strong and fast fliers, with a rapid wingbeat. Most species in the group are active at dusk, and most feed much like hummingbirds, hovering in front of a flower and sipping nectar through the extended proboscis. The proboscis rolls up when not in use. Some species lack scales on large portions of their wings , resulting in transparent or clear wings. In most species, the larval stage is called a "hornworm" because the caterpillar''s posterior end has a harmless hook or hornlike appendage protruding upward. Unfortunately, the caterpillar of some species can be very destructive to agricultural crops and ornamental plantings .

'[1]

Taxonomy

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

Members of the genus Xylophanes

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 6 species and subspecies in this genus:

X. ceratomoides (Brown and Yellow Sphinx) · X. falco (Falcon Sphinx) · X. libya (Libya Sphinx) · X. pluto (Pluto Sphinx) · X. porcus (Porcus Sphinx) · X. tersa (Tersa Sphinx)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• A revision of the lepidopterous family Sphingidae. By the Hon. Walter Rothschild. .. and Karl Jordan. .. (With 67 plates). Issued at the Zoological Museum, Tring, March 1903. London, Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., 1903. url p. 704, p. 913.
• Journal of Hymenoptera research. Washington, D.C.: International Society of Hymenopterists, [1992- url p. 69.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 15, 2012.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 27, 2008:

• Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (Costa Rica): Biodiversidad de Costa Rica
• UNIBIO, IBUNAM: CNIN/Lepidoptera

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 5459159
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-56966.0
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1718329

Footnotes

1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=30&sci=Sphingidae&com=Sphinx Moths, Hawkmoths [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.