Xylophanes epaphus
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes epaphus is a moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

 of the Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...

 family. It is found from French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...

 possibly as far south as
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

.

It is somewhat similar to Xylophanes obscurus
Xylophanes obscurus
Xylophanes obscurus is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Peru and Brazil.It is similar to Xylophanes cosmius but the forewing upperside is darker, more uniform and sombre brown. Furthermore, the dark patch distal to discal spot is larger and trapezoidal. The conspicuous postmedian...

but generally paler and with a pinkish tint overall. The forewings are shorter and broader and less excavate below the apex. The forewing upperside is similar to Xylophanes obscurus but paler brown, the dark patch distal to the discal spot is smaller, transverse, narrowly oval and less than half the width of that of Xylophanes obscurus. The conspicuous postmedian line is slightly concave and running to the apex.

Adults are probably on wing year round.

The larvae possibly feed on Psychotria panamensis, Psychotria nervosa
Psychotria nervosa
Psychotria nervosa, also known as wild coffee, is a shade tolerant medium-sized shrub native to Florida as well as Central and South America. It produces "small, red, ellipsoid fruit" that resemble "the true coffee bean" in shape and attract birds...

and Pavonia guanacastensis.
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