Pachylia ficus, known as the fig sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It lives from the northern tip of South America in Uruguay through Central America to the southern tip of the United States straying into Arizona and Texas.[2]
| Fig sphinx | |
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| Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, Grand Cayman | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Sphingidae |
| Genus: | Pachylia |
| Species: | P. ficus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pachylia ficus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
It has a wingspan of 4+3⁄8–5+1⁄2 inches (110–140 mm), with orange-brown wings.
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_Brasil_female_ventral.jpg)
Biology
There are several generations per year in the tropics, peninsular Florida and southern Texas. Adults have been recorded in February, September and November in Brazil and in June in Panama. The adults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Asystasia gangetica and the endangered ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii). They also pollinate the ghost orchid.[3][4]
The larvae have been recorded feeding on Ficus aurea, Ficus carica, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus religiosa, Ficus pumila, Ficus gamelleira, Ficus prinoides, Ficus pumila and Artocarpus integrifolius. There are several colour morphs. Pupation takes place in a cocoon spun amongst leaf litter.
References
External links
- Fig sphinx Moths of America