Biology:Aellopos tantalus

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Short description: Species of moth

Tantalus sphinx
Aellopos tantalus MHNT CUT 2010 0 273 San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico male dorsal.jpg
Male dorsal
Aellopos tantalus MHNT CUT 2010 0 273 San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico male ventral.jpg
Male venral
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Aellopos
Species:
A. tantalus
Binomial name
Aellopos tantalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)[1]
Synonyms
  • Sphinx tantalus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Sphinx ixion Linnaeus, 1758
  • Macroglossa sisyphus Burmeister, 1855
  • Sphinx terpunctata Goeze, 1780
  • Sphinx tantalus zonata Drury, 1773
Cramer&Stoll-uitlandsche kapellen vol. 1- plate 068.jpg

Aellopos tantalus, known as the Tantalus sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found in Florida, the Antilles, from Mexico to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, and in the Amazon basin.

The wingspan is 45–57 millimetres (1.8–2.2 in). Adults are on wing year-round. The adults feed on nectar of various flowers, including Eugenia axillaris, Draceana fragrans and Ernodea littoralis.

The larvae feed on Rubiaceae species, including Casasia clusiifolia and Randia aculeata. Pupation takes place in loose cocoons in shallow underground chambers or in leaf litter.[2]

Subspecies

  • Aellopos tantalus tantalus
  • Aellopos tantalus zonata (Drury, 1773) (St. Kitts and Mexico)

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q1350529 entry