Xylophanes kiefferi
Encyclopedia
Xylophanes kiefferi is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from Colombia
.
It is similar to Xylophanes aristor
, but more robust, the outer edge of the forewing is straighter, the forewing upperside ground colour is deep rich brown and the first and fourth postmedian lines are farther apart. The upperside of the body is deep rich brown. The forewing underside is brown, although the basal area is dark brown grey. The second postmedian line is heavy, sinuate and continuous, reaching the inner margin. The dark marginal area is relatively close to the postmedian area and is delineated by a grey line that is partly toothed. The anal area of the hindwing underside is bright yellow.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae probably feed on Rubiaceae
and Malvaceae
species.
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 known from Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
It is similar to Xylophanes aristor
Xylophanes aristor
Xylophanes aristor is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from Guatemala to Venezuela, Ecuador and probably Colombia.The forewing upperside ground colour and the upperside of the body is olive-green and the forewing underside is orange...
, but more robust, the outer edge of the forewing is straighter, the forewing upperside ground colour is deep rich brown and the first and fourth postmedian lines are farther apart. The upperside of the body is deep rich brown. The forewing underside is brown, although the basal area is dark brown grey. The second postmedian line is heavy, sinuate and continuous, reaching the inner margin. The dark marginal area is relatively close to the postmedian area and is delineated by a grey line that is partly toothed. The anal area of the hindwing underside is bright yellow.
Adults are probably on wing year round.
The larvae probably feed on Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
and Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
species.