Eumorpha capronnieri
you-MOR-fuhMkagh-PRON-nee-air-eye
(Boisduval, [1875]) Philampelus

Eumorpha capronnieri, Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Mato Grosso, Brazil,
September 10, 2007, 71m, courtesy/copyright of Johan van't Bosch.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Sphingoidea, Dyar, 1902 Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839 Tribe: Philampelini, Burmeister Genus: Eumorpha, Hubner, [1807] Species: capronnieri, (Boisduval, [1875])

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DISTRIBUTION:

Eumorpha capronnieri (wingspan 102-106 mm) flies from
French Guiana: Kaw, Saul; to
southern Nicaragua: Rio San Juan, Zelaya;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Limon, Alajuela, Heredia; and
probably Panama; southwards to
Bolivia: Beni: Yacuma (1000-1700m);
northern Argentina.

It is also likely present in
Panama;
Colombia;
Venezuela;
Tobago;
probably Trinidad;
Guyana: Georgetown;
Suriname: Sipaliwini District: Stoelmanseiland (JvB);
Ecuador: Orellana;
Peru: Merced;
Brazil: Amapa, Roraima, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia, Acre, Mato Grosso.

Eumorpha capronnieri is somewhat similar to Eumorpha phorbas, but capronnieri has a distinct forewing upperside pattern of mottled green and brown areas. The forewing apex is slightly more produced and pointed in capronnieri.

Note the outward extensions of dark green-brown stripes on abdominal tergites 5 and 6.

Eumorpha capronnieri, Stoelmanseiland, Sipaliwini District, Suriname,
July 23, 2011, courtesy of Johan van't Bosch.

"Eumorpha" means well-formed. The species is probably named after a friend, collector or colleague. In such cases, practice is to say the name followed by an "eye".

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Eumorpha capronnieri male, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Eumorpha capronnieri broods continuously with adults on the wing every month of the year, except March, in Costa Rica. Johan van't Bosch reports a September flight in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and a July flight in Suriname. It probably also flies in other months. February and August flights have been reported in French Guiana.

Adults nectar at various flowers. Eumorpha capronnieri larvae probably feed upon grapes (Vitaceae), dogbane (Apocynaceae), or evening primrose (Onagraceae) families.

Eumorpha capronnieri Yasuni, Ecuador, September 6, 2002 - 9:33 PM, by Steve Graser.

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 capronnieri male courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Eumorpha capronnieri female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants

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.

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