Isognathus swainsonii

Isognathus swainsonii is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Isognathus swainsonii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Sphingidae
Genus:	Isognathus
Species:	I. swainsonii
Binomial name
Isognathus swainsonii Felder & Felder, 1862[1]
Synonyms
Isognathus fumosa Butler, 1875 Isognathus zebra Clark, 1923 Isognathus rimosa brasiliensis Clark, 1919

Distribution

It is found from French Guiana, Peru and Brazil to Bolivia.[2]

Description

The wingspan is about 82 mm. It is similar to Isognathus leachii, but the forewing upperside has more white scaling, there are interrupted white vein-streaks on the distal half of the wing, the basal patch is thinner and the marginal spots at the ends of veins are larger and paler grey.

• 
  Larva
• 
  Male dorsal
• 
  Male ventral

Biology

There are probably multiple generations per year.

The larvae have been recorded feeding on Plumeria acuminata. They have long tails and are very colourful, suggesting they are unpalatable to birds.

References

1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
2. "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-10-19.