Pluto Sphinx
Common NamePluto Sphinx
Scientific NameXylophanes pluto
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)80
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgreen, brown, white
HabitatTropical and subtropical forests, disturbed areas, gardens
Geographic RangeSouthern Florida (USA), West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and South America
Host PlantsPsychotria nervosa, Hamelia patens, Chiococca alba
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; multiple broods
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are typically green or brown with eyespots, feeding on host plants, and pupate in shallow burrows in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the distinctive olive-green coloration with a prominent pale diagonal stripe on the forewing, and the robust, tapered body characteristic of sphinx moths.
Description
A medium-sized moth with a robust, tapered body and forewings predominantly olive-green, marked with wavy brown bands and a prominent pale, almost white, stripe running from the base to the apex.
