Adhemarius (SPHINGIDAE: SMERINTHINAE: AMBULYCINI)
A distinctive genus of svelte and rather similar hawkmoths distributed in eastern Paraguay. The forewings are brownish or olive-greenish with dark basal bands and subapical spots - note the extent and shape of these for identification. Hindwings pink with black markings. Generally speaking Adhemarius daphne is the most commonly encountered species.

Key to species:
1a Posterior border of hindwing mostly black. Subapical spot broad and almost square. Basal band of forewing extends to costa. - Adhemarius eurysthenes (R Felder, 1874)
1b Posterior border of hindwing mostly pink. Subapical spot thin and comma-shaped. - 2

2a Basal band of forewing extends to costa. - Adhemarius gannascus (Stoll, 1790)
2b Basal band of forewing does not reach the costa - Adhemarius daphne (Boisduval [1875])

Possible species:
Adhemarius gagarini (Zikan, 1935) as gannascus but subapical spot broad and almost square.
Adhemarius palmeri (Boisduval [1875]) is distinctive, with basal band reaching the costa and being broad, blotchy and broken in the middle. Subpical spots very large. Posterior border of hindwing mostly black.

The taxonomy of this group was clarified by:
Vaglia, T. & J. Haxaire. 2005. Révision des Adhemarius du complexe gannascus (Stoll, 1790) (Lepidoptera Sphingidae). Lambillionea, 105(1): 3-39.

Click on the photo to enlarge it to full size.
Comparative species gallery specimens from the Colección Zoológica Para La Tierra (Laguna Blanca) and IBIS-UNP Collection (Pilar)
Many thanks to Ulf Drechsel and Ian Kitching for assistance with Sphingidae issues.
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith, Andres Contreras, Olga Petko, Regis Nossent, Ulf Drechsel, and Helen Pheasey and are used with their permission.
A. daphne CZPLT 3006

A. daphne CZPLT 3006
A. gannascus CZPLT 3431

A. gannascus CZPLT 3431
A. eurysthenes IBIS 8(1).316

A. eurysthenes IBIS 8(1).316
Gallery 2 Adhemarius gannascus (Stoll 1790)
Sphinx Gannascus Stoll, 1790. Uitlandsche Kapellen (Papillons exot.) (suppl.). 157, pl. 35, fig 3.
Forewing: Male 45-57mm, Female 50-64mm
Distribution: Alto Paraná, Canindeyú, Concepción, Itapúa, San Pedro
FIGURE 2a - (FPSPH0006PH) PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith August 2009).
FIGURE 2b - (FPSPH0007PH) CZPLT-2951 Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca (Olga Petko December 2014).
Figure 1a

Figure 1a
Figure 1b

Figure 1b
Figure 1c

Figure 1c
Figure 1d

Figure 1d
Figure 1e

Figure 1e
Gallery 1 Adhemarius daphne (Boisduval [1875])
Ambulyx Daphne Boisduval, [1875]. Histoire naturelle des insectes (Spécies général des lépidoptères - Hétérocères) 1: 184-185.
Forewing: Male 43-54mm, Female 51-62mm
Distribution: Alto Paraná, Canindeyú, Concepción, Guairá, Itapúa, San Pedro
FIGURE 1a - (FPSPH0001PH) Hotel Tirol, Departamento Itapúa (Regis Nossent June 2005).
FIGURE 1b - (FPSPH0002PH) PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 1c - (FPSPH0003PH) underwing - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007). 
FIGURE 1d - (FPSPH0004PH) pair - Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca (Paul Smith March 2011).
FIGURE 1e - (FPSPH0005PH) larva - location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org). 
Figure 2a

Figure 2a
Figure 2b

Figure 2b
Gallery 3 Adhemarius eurysthenes (R. Felder, 1874)
Ambulyx eurysthenes R.Felder, [1874]. Reise ost. Fregatte Novara (Zool) 2 (Abt. 2): pl. 77, fig. 5.
Forewing: Male 42-53mm, Female 50-60mm
Distribution: Canindeyú, Concepción, Itapúa, San Pedro
FIGURE 3a - (FPSPH0008PH) location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org).  
FIGURE 3b - (FPSPH0009PH)  IBIS 8(1).316 Pilar, Dpto. Ñeembucú (Andres Contreras IBIS Collection). 
FIGURE 3c - (FPSPH0010PH) CZPLT-642 Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca (Helen Pheasey September 2011).
Figure 3a

Figure 3a
Figure 3b

Figure 3b
Figure 3c

Figure 3c
COMPARATIVE SPECIMEN GALLERY