DISTRIBUTION:

The Satellite Sphinx Moth, Eumorpha satellitia satellitia (wingspan 114-134 mm, females larger than males), flies in
Jamaica and
from Mexico;
Belize: Cayo;
Guatemala: Izabal (JM); to
Venezuela;
Ecuador: Loja (PO);
Peru;
further south into Bolivia;
Brazil; and
Uruguay at the subspecies level. I supect it flies through the rest of Central America and probably also in Colombia. Mike Quinn provides this larval image from extreme southern Texas.

Eumorpha satellitia licaon, October 24, 2005,
Hidalgo County, Texas, courtesy of Mike Quinn.

Subspecies posticatus flies in Cuba: Guantanamo; and the Bahamas; subspecies excessus flies in Brazil. I am not sure of the range allocations for the nominate subspecies and subspecies licaon: Ecuador: Imbabura: Paramba; French Guiana: Kaw.

CATE: "A conspicuous spot behind the eye. Tegulae with large, brown, lateral patches. Abdomen upperside with a series of indistinct patches along the midline, each tapering anteriorly, not forming a single distinct line (as in Eumorpha satellitia posticatus).

"Forewing upperside largely brown, dusted with paler scales, the pattern not as vivid as Eumorpha satellitia posticatus; posterior margin medially with a distinct, dark brown rhombiform patch (rather than triangular as in Eumorpha satellitia posticatus), the area between it and the wing base slightly darker than the ground colour; a further, triangular dark patch on the posterior margin at the tornus; a less distinct subapical triangular patch on the costa; a double black discal spot present; CuA1 conspicuously paler than the ground colour.

"Hindwing upperside basally buff, inner margin same colour (not pink as in Eumorpha analis and Eumorpha satellitia posticatus); a series of dark brown or black submarginal black spots near the tornus between CuA1 and 1A, but not continued towards costa as a distinct line (as in Eumorpha satellitia posticatus), so that inner edge of marginal band is diffuse.

"Male: A pinkish tone all over."

For Eumorpha satellitia licaon CATE indicates, "Somewhat variable in ground colour but generally greyer than Eumorpha satellitia satellitia and never as green as Eumorpha pandorus. Hindwing upperside inner margin marked with a few red scales."

Eumorpha satellitia, Urruca Lodge, Jorupe National Park, Loja, Ecuador,
February 17, 2011, courtesy of Pia Oberg.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERED FOOD PLANTS:

Eumorpha satellitia satellitia adults are on the wing from April to August and then again in October. Pia Oberg reports a February flight in Loja Province, Ecuador.

Eumorpha satellitia satellitia larvae feed upon Cissus pseudosicyoides and Cissus rhombifolia. Adults feed from flowers including petunia (Petunia hybrida), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), and white campion (Lychnis alba).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Pupae wiggle to surface just prior to eclosion. Females call at night, and males (below) fly into the wind to pick up and track the pheromone plume. Eumorpha satellitia satellitia in typical resting pose. Image courtesy of James Adams.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Females lay translucent green eggs singly on leaves of the host plant. This egg is about to hatch. The anal "horn" is visible through the shell. This image and the following images (courtesy of Dan Janzen) represent specimens from Costa Rica, and may well be subspecies of nominate satellitia.

Larvae get quite large and consume copious amounts of foliage. Missing leaves and droppings on the ground, are quick clues that one of the Eumorpha species is on a vine. Parasites take a high toll.

When disturbed, the larva quickly retracts the head and thorax. White stripes are elongate and smooth, not irregular as in achemon or more circular as in pandorus.

Pupation is underground and pupal stage usually lasts five-six weeks before eclosion. The pupa is long and slender with a long cremaster.

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Cissus pseudosicyoides....... Cissus rhombifolia.......

Treebine Grape and Oak Leaf Ivy

Eumorpha satellitia, Jalpan, Queretaro, Mexico, July 21, 2007, courtesy of Jim Conrad.

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