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Silk Moth

Syssphinx sp. (maybe S. quadrilineata quadrilineata)

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

My First Moth for Moth Week 2014. A mustard yellow Silk Moth with pink underwings and legs. This one is a male. The upper wings have stripes ad two white spots on each wing. About 5 cm long. Family Saturniidae.

Habitat:

Came to the lights at the Toll Booth on the Highway to Arriaga, Chiapas on the border of the Sepultura Biosfere Reserve.

Notes:

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Sphingicampa-montana
http://bugguide.net/node/view/95579/bgpage
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/ssmontan.htm
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/pinned.php?plate=19&size=s&so…
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/gallery?page=3&stage=adult&species_v…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
BillOehlke
As Ryan has indicated, it could be a number of different Sphingicampa species. Of the mix, I favour Sphingicampa quadrilineata quadrilineata. Bill Oehlke
Ryan St. Laurent
Sphingicampa sp. is fine. S. quadrilineata has a very wide range in morphology (not only in coloration, but even wing shape) and this complex of species, which includes S. montana, S. quadrilineata, S. pescadori, and S. malinalcoensis (among others) is rather poorly understood.
LaurenZarate
Thank you Ryan. Shall I put Sphingicampa sp. or S. quadrilineata? The quadrilineata on the internet is more red than yellow.
Ryan St. Laurent
Sphingicampa montana is a more northern species. This is something near S. quadrilineata, though I admit there are a number of very similar species in Mexico, and a genitalia dissection is preferable for accurate identification.

Spotted for Missions

Butterflies and Moths of México
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Mexico Horn of Plenty
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Moths of the World
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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
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Insects from Mexico!

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Photographed
PublishedJuly 20, 2014

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