Xylophanes pluto

Xylophanes pluto, the Pluto sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1777.

Pluto sphinx
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Xylophanes
Species:	X. pluto
Binomial name
Xylophanes pluto (Fabricius, 1777)
Synonyms
Sphinx pluto Fabricius, 1777 Sphinx croesus Dalman, 1823 Calliomma ochracea Walker, 1856 Oreus thorates Hübner, 1831

Distribution

It is native to the Americas, where it can be found from Argentina and Paraguay to Bolivia and then through tropical and subtropical lowlands from Brazil north through Central America to Mexico, the West Indies, southern Florida and southern Texas.

Description

The wingspan is 53–65 mm. The prominent broad chrome-yellow band distinguishes this species from all other Xylophaness. The thorax is green. The abdomen has a thin medial line, interrupted at the base of each segment by a metallic yellow dot. The lateral lines are also present. The thorax and abdomen are maize yellow, with metallic yellow scales, a few of which are also found dorso-laterally.

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  Male dorsal
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  Male ventral
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  Female doral
• 
  Female ventral

Biology

There are multiple generations per year in Florida and Texas. Adults are on wing year round in the tropics.

The larvae feed on Chiococca and Erythroxylum species, and Hamelia patens and Morinda royoc. There are three colour morphs, green, brown, and purplish brown. The false eyes are conspicuous in the last form. The larvae start feeding at the beginning of dusk and keep feeding throughout the night. During the day they hide at the base of their host plant or in nearby vegetation.