''Amphonyx lucifer'' is a moth of the family Sphingidae first described by

Walter Rothschild Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild, (8 February 1868 – 27 August 1937) was a British banker, politician, zoologist and soldier, who was a member of the Rothschild family. As a Zionist leader, he was present ...

and Karl Jordan in 1903.

Distribution

It is found in tropical and subtropical lowlands from Mexico, Belize,

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

, Nicaragua and

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

, south through Venezuela to Brazil,

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

, Argentina and Ecuador.

Description

The wingspan is 140–160 mm. Amphonyx lucifer MHNT CUT 2010 0 67 Itatiaia National Park female dorsal.jpg, Female, upperside Amphonyx lucifer MHNT CUT 2010 0 67 Itatiaia National Park female ventral.jpg, Female, underside

Biology

Adults are on wing year round. They nectar at flowers. The larvae feed on ''

Annona purpurea ''Annona purpurea'' is an edible fruit and medicinal plant in the Annonaceae family. It is native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. Its common names include soncoya, sincuya, and cabeza de negro. Description It is a small t ...

'' 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.

References

Amphonyx Moths described in 1903 Taxa named by Walter Rothschild Taxa named by Karl Jordan Moths of North America Moths of South America {{Sphinginae-stub