Cocytius lucifer is a moth of the family Sphingidae first described by Walter Rothschild and Karl Jordan in 1903.[2]

Cocytius lucifer
Upperside
Underside
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Cocytius
Species:
C. lucifer
Binomial name
Cocytius lucifer
Synonyms
  • Amphonyx lucifer Rothschild & Jordan, 1903
  • Cocytius macasensis Clark, 1922
  • Cocytius lucifer lindneri Gehlen, 1944
  • Cocytius morgani Boisduval, 1875

Distribution

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It is found in tropical and subtropical lowlands from Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, south through Venezuela to Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Ecuador.[3]

Description

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The wingspan is 140–160 mm.[2]

Biology

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Adults are on wing year round.

The larvae feed on Annona purpurea and Desmopsis schippii and probably other Annonaceae species. They are clear green and white or blue-green. The prepupa is green with a rose stripe down its back.[3]

The adults pollinate Ruellia humilis (Acanthaceae), Schubertia grandiflora (Asclepiadaceae), Caryocar brasiliensis (Caryocaraceae), Bauhinia holophylla (Fabaceae), Inga vera (Fabaceae), Luehea divaricata (Malvaceae), Guettarda viburnoides (Rubiaceae), Tocoyena formosa (Rubiaceae) and Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae).[4]

References

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  1. ^ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  2. ^ a b Savela, Markku. "Cocytius lucifer (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. 2002-09-07. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  4. ^ "Mariposas polinizadoras do cerrado: identificação, distribuição, importância e conservação. - Portal Embrapa". www.embrapa.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-09.