''Nyceryx magna'' is a

moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (s ...

of the family

Sphingidae The Sphingidae are a family of moths commonly 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, but species ar ...

Distribution

It is known from

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

and

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

Description

It can be distinguished from other '' Nyceryx'' species by the dark forewing upperside and the brownish-orange basal area and pale purple bands in the tornal angle of the hindwing upperside. Nyceryx magna MHNT CUT 2010 0 198 Rio Solimões São Paulo de Olivença Amazonas Brazil female dorsal.jpg, Female dorsal Nyceryx magna MHNT CUT 2010 0 198 Rio Solimões São Paulo de Olivença Amazonas Brazil female ventral.jpg, Female ventral

Biology

Adults are on wing year round. The larvae feed on '' Pentagonia donnell-smithii''. Early instar larvae have very large heads and elongated tails. The head has a distinctive blue-green colour in the final instar and the tail is shorter and rough. The pupa is smooth and shiny with alternating light and dark bands on the abdomen.

References

Nyceryx Moths described in 1874 Taxa named by Rudolf Felder Sphingidae of South America Moths of Central America Lepidoptera of Costa Rica Lepidoptera of Brazil Lepidoptera of Ecuador {{Dilophonotini-stub