Sphingidae of U. S. Virgin Islands

Xylophanes chiron chiron courtesy of Paolo Mazzei.

Although I believe these "tribal" checklists contain only species within the Virgin Islands, there are probably some omissions, and there may be a few improper entries.

The list should be fairly reliable, however, as it is from my Puerto Rico checklist.

The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas, along with the much smaller but historically distinct Water Island, and many other surrounding minor islands.

The British Virgin Islands consist of The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty other smaller islands and cays.

I have placed a G after those species verified on Guana, a small island of the British Virgin Islands. Manduca brontes and (Manduca sexta no subspecies specification) are listed for Guana but not for Puerto Rico. Xylophanes chiron is listed for Guana with no subspecies specification.

The Guana information is from THE LARGE MOTHS OF GUANA ISLAND, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: A SURVEY OF EFFICIENT COLONIZERS (SPHINGIDAE, NOTODONTIDAE, NOCTUIDAE, ARCTIIDAE, GEOMETRIDAE, HYBLAEIDAE, COSSIDAE) by VITOR O. BECKER and SCOTT E. MILLER and should be very reliable.

If you have corrections to offer, please contact
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com.

Sphingini Agrius cingulata G Cocytius antaeus G Cocytius cluentius Cocytius duponchel Manduca brontes G M. brontes haitiensis Manduca caribbeus Manduca johanni M. quinquemaculata * Manduca rustica *G M. rustica cubana M. sexta jamaicensis M. sexta sexta G Nannoparce poeyi Sphinx tricolor

Smerinthini Protambulyx s. strigilis

Dilophonotini Aellopos blaini* Aellopos fadus* Aellopos tantalus G Callion. calliomenae Callion. denticulata Callionima falcifera G Callionima parce Enyo l. lugubris G Enyo ocypete Erinnyis alope G Erinnyis crameri *G Erinnyis domingonis G Erinnyis ello G Erinnyis guttularis Erinnyis lassauxii Erinnyis obscura G Erinnyis oenotrus* Eupyrrho. sagra Isognathus rimosa I. rimosus moliter Madoryx oiclus* Pachylia ficus G Pachylioides resumens Perigonia caryae Perigonia glaucescens Perigonia lefebraei Perigonia l. lusca *G Perigonia manni Phryxus caicus Pseudosphinx tetrio*G

Philampelini Eumorpha fasciatus Eumorpha labruscae Eumorpha strenua Eumorpha vitis G

Macroglossini C. noctuiformis *G Hyles lineata G X. chiron chiron *G X. chiron nechus X. clarki Xylophanes pluto *G Xylophanes porcus Xylophanes rhodocera Xylophanes tersa *G

Pseudosphinx tetrio, Puerto Rico, courtesy of Brian M. Irish.

Brian writes, "I found many of them devouring a purple allamanda and also on a large tree (Bombaceae) on the USDA Tropical Agricultural Research Station grounds in Mayaguez, west coast of Puerto Rico."

Brian M. Irish, Horticulturist/Genetecist, Tropical Agricultural Research Station, Mayaguez, PR 00680

Pseudosphinx tetrio, Luquillo, Puerto Rico, courtesy of Ruby Rodriguez.

Ruby writes, "We have these in our front yard in Luquillo, northeast coast of Puerto Rico, all the time feeding. About every other month they clean one of my flowered trees (Plumeria cujete) bare. Then they disappear and reappear once the tree flourishes again. I always wanted to know what they were, so your site has very helpful. I hope you enjoy the pictures."

Pseudosphinx tetrio larva, San Juan, north central coastal PR,
March 19, 2008, courtesy of Eric Johnson.

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