Madoryx plutonius

Madoryx plutonius is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Madoryx plutonius
Madoryx plutonius plutonius male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Madoryx
Species:	M. plutonius
Binomial name
Madoryx plutonius (Hubner, 1819)[1]
Synonyms
Sphinx pluto Cramer, 1779 Madoryx deborrei Boisduval, 1875 Hemeroplanes plutonius Hübner, 1819

Distribution

It is known from Suriname, Venezuela, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Costa Rica Colombia and Guatemala. It is probably also present in Panama, and Guyana.^[2] Subspecies dentatus is found in Mexico and Belize.

Description

The wingspan is 92–120 mm. It differs from all other Madoryx species in the acute forewing apex. There is a minute, circular, upper silver spot and an elongate, triangular lower silver spot on the forewing upperside.

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  Male dorsal
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  Male ventral
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  Female dorsal
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  Female ventral

Biology

Adults are on wing year round.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Conostegia xalapensis and found feeding on Yemeri (Vochysia hondurensis) in Belize. Pupation takes place in a loose cocoon of yellow silk and leaves. The pupa is dark chocolate brown.

Subspecies

• Madoryx plutonius plutonius
• Madoryx plutonius dentatus Gehlen, 1931 (Mexico Colombia and Belize)

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  Madoryx plutonius dentatus Male dorsal
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  Madoryx plutonius dentatus Male ventral