Hemeroplanes triptolemus

Hemeroplanes triptolemus is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Hemeroplanes triptolemus
Hemeroplanes triptolemus Male dorsal
Hemeroplanes triptolemus Male ventral
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Hemeroplanes
Species:
H. triptolemus
Binomial name
Hemeroplanes triptolemus
(Cramer, 1779)[1]
Synonyms
  • Sphinx triptolemus Cramer, 1779

Description
  • Female dorsal
    (coll.MHNT)
  • Female ventral
    (coll.MHNT)

Biology

Its chest and wings are covered in scales. The moth uses a proboscis to feed itself nectar. Both males and females have a relatively long lifetime of 10 to 30 days. The female moths lay pellucid green eggs. Egg growth varies strongly from 3 to 21 days. There are at least two generations per year with peak flights from January to February and again from June to July.

The larvae feed on Mesechites trifida. In its larval form, the Hemeroplanes triptolemus is capable of expanding its anterior body segments to give it the appearance of a snake, complete with eye patches. This snake mimicry extends even to the point where it will harmlessly strike at potential predators.[2]

Distribution

The moth is known from Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and probably flies throughout Central America into Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela and Guyana.

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References
  1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  2. "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
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