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Xylophanes tersa, the tersa sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1771. It is found from the United States (Massachusetts south to southern Florida, west to Nebraska, New Mexico and southern Arizona), through Mexico, the West Indies and Central America and into parts of South America (including Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil).
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 . [ 1 ] It is best represented in the tropics , but species are found in every region. [ 2 ]
Xylophanes is a genus of moths in the family Sphingidae erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819. As of 2000, there are about 96 species and subspecies included in the genus. As of 2000, there are about 96 species and subspecies included in the genus.
It is similar to Xylophanes tersa tersa but the upperside of the body and forewing is more uniform ash grey, whereas the abdomen is lacking the golden-yellow lateral stripes and the forewings are less elongate. Furthermore, the abdominal tergites have weaker spines.
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The length of the forewings is 36–41 mm. It is intermediate in appearance between Xylophanes aristor and Xylophanes tersa. There is a weakly developed golden medial line on the tegula. The upperside of the thorax has a grey medial band, bordered laterally and divided medially by brown lines.
Its common names include tetrio sphinx, giant gray sphinx, frangipani hornworm, [2] and plumeria caterpillar. [3] In the island of Martinique it is best known as Rasta caterpillar ( chenille rasta , in French) because of its colors which are reminiscent of the ones found in Rastafarian clothing and accessories.
Oenothera are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the large white-lined sphinx (Hyles lineata). [7] The flower moths Schinia felicitata and S. florida both feed exclusively on the genus, and the former is limited to O. deltoides .