Pachylia syces

Pachylia syces
Pachylia syces ♂
Pachylia syces ♂ △
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Pachylia
Species:	P. syces
Binomial name
Pachylia syces (Hubner, 1819) [1]
Synonyms
Enyo sycesHübner, 1819 Pachylia inornataClemens, 1859 Pachylia syces cubensisCloss, 1911 Pachylia syces septentrionalisGehlen, 1944

Pachylia syces is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Distribution

It is found from Mexico through Belize and Honduras to Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. ^[2] It is also found on Jamaica.

Subspecies

• Pachylia syces syces (Mexico through Belize and Honduras to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina)
• Pachylia syces insularisRothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Jamaica)

Description

There is a pale median band on the forewing upperside which is separated into two patches. Occasionally the patches are connected into a continuous transverse band, but if so, the band so formed is strongly constricted. The hindwing upperside is almost unicolorous, darkened distally, without distinct bands and with a conspicuous white tip.

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  Pachylia syces ♀
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  Pachylia syces ♀ △

Biology

There are probably multiple generations per year.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Ficus microcarpa , Ficus prinoides , Ficus ovalis and Artocarpus integrifolius .

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  Larva measurement
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  Larva size comparison
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  With parasitic wasp larvae
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  Green colour phase
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  Preyed on by a plush-crested jay

References

1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2011-10-19. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-10-19.