Updated as per AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE SPHINGIDAE OF BOLIVIA, October 2007
Updated as per http://www.pybio.org/MACROGLOSSINAE.htm (Paraguay), October 2007
Updated as per L.O.L.A. publication Hawkmoths of Argentina, More, Kitching and Cocucci, 2005, November 2007
Updated as per Bilogical Diversity in Belize, November 2007
Updated as per The Known Sphingidae of Costa Rica, October 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Ezequiel Bustos (Aguas Blancas, Salta, Argentina, 405m); December 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Patrick Demez (Ica, Peru, January 23, 2010); February 3, 2010
Updated as per personal communication with David Morimoto (Starbroek market area, Georgetown, Guyana, January 17, 2011); February 1, 2011
This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at email@example.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
Superfamily: Sphingoidea, Dyar, 1902
Argentina: Buenos Aires (Dec.), Cordoba,
La Rioja, Sante Fe (Sept.), Tucuman, Salta (405m EB);
Bolivia: Santa Cruz: Ichilo, Buena Vista, Florida, Pampa Grande, Sarah, Warnes (350-750m);
Peru: Ica (PD);
French Guiana: Starbroek market area, Georgetown;
Paraguay: Alto Paraguay, Boqueron, Presidente Hayes, Concepcion, Amambay, San Pedro, Canindeyu, Cordillera, Central, Guaira, Caaguazu, Paraguari;
Mexico: Yucatan: Chichen Itza (Ernesto Alvarado Reyes); and elsewhere;
Belize: Corozol, Cayo, Stann Creek, Toledo;
Guatemala: Izabal (JM);
Honduras: Atlantida, Cortes, Francisco-Morazan;
Nicaragua: Madriz, Esteli, Matagalpa, Chinandega, Leon, Managua, Granada, Zelaya, Rio San Juan;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Limon, Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago, San Jose;
This species also flies throughout the Carribean. It is subspecies hesperidum that flies in Jamaica.
The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. The hindwing has a pink patch on the inner margin, but lacks the pink along the outer margin, distinguishing it from fasciata.
Note the large brown "parallelogram" between lowest of three striga upwards toward the transverse lines. In E. fasciatus this same area is very small, almost non-existent.
Eumorpha vitis vitis in typical resting pose courtesy of James Adams.
"Eumorpha" means well-formed. The species name "vitis" refers to grape as the larval host.
Patrick Demez reports a January flight in southwestern Peru.
Eumorpha vitis, Ica, Peru, January 23, 2010, courtesy of Patrick Demez.
Eumorpha vitis vitis larvae feed upon grape foliage (Vitis) and other vines (Cissus): Cissus pseudosicyoides and Cissus rhombifolia and Cissus sicycoides.
Eumorpha vitis, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico,
July 12, courtesy of Jean-Marc Pilliere.
Eumorpha vitis, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.
Visit Eumorpha vitis, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas, September 27, 2009, courtesy of Gus A. Rentfro.
Visit Eumorpha vitis, Austin, Texas, June 30, 2010, courtesy of Michelle Walden.
Visit Eumorpha vitis, Rollingwood, Travis County, Texas, August 30, 2012, Deborah Wilson.
Larvae exist as either green, yellow or purple colour morphs and pupate in subterranean burrows. The larva to the right shows damage from tachinid and ichneumonid fly larvae.
Note the four-five smooth lateral stripes with the final one widened as opposed to the six segmented stripes on the Achemon Sphinx larva.
The head is retracted when the larva senses danger.
Eumorpha vitis, Austin, Texas, September 19, 2005, courtesy of Melody Lytle.
Eumorpha vitis, October 27, 2005, NABA International
Hidalgo County, Texas, courtesy of John Rosford.
Jim Tuttle, who confirmed the id, writes, "Yes, it is vitis. In satellitia the white panels are completely enclosed in black whereas in vitis the ends of the black panels remain open. Also, satellitia has a faint subdorsal longitudinal stripe that touches the top of the white panels that is lacking in vitis." As a postscript Jim adds, "The host plant is commonly called sorrel vine (Cissus)."
Visit Eumorpha vitis fourth and fifth instars, Converse, Bexar County, November 2008, courtesy of Lisa Tingle.
Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.
This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.
Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.
Enjoy one of nature's wonderments: Live Saturniidae (Giant Silkmoth) cocoons.
Show appreciation for this site by clicking on flashing butterfly to the left.
The link will take you to a page with links to many insect sites.