''Monarda'' is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...
genus in the family
Sphingidae
The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, bu ...
. Its only species, ''Monarda oryx'', is known from
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. Both the genus and species were described by
Herbert Druce
Herbert Druce, FLS (14 July 1846, in London – 11 April 1913, in London) was an English entomologist.
His collections were acquired by Frederick DuCane Godman (1834–1919), Osbert Salvin (1835–1898), and James John Joicey (1870–1932) be ...
in 1896.
The scales and most of the hairs on the forewing upperside are deep rusty brown, except at the costal and distal margins and upon the veins, which are olive. There are two interrupted black antemedian bands and two discal series of black chevrons as well as a series of black postdiscal spots. There are no rusty brown scales on the forewing underside.
Adults are on wing in July.
The larvae have been recorded feeding on ''
Ipomoea
''Ipomoea'' () is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 600 species. It is a large and diverse group, with common names including morning glory, water convolvulus or water spinach, sweet potato, bindweed, moonflo ...
stans''.
References
Sphingulini
Monotypic moth genera
Moths of Central America
{{Sphingulini-stub