Protambulyx and Orecta (SPHINGIDAE: SMERINTHINAE: AMBULYCINI)
A distinctive genus of large, long winged and rather similar hawkmoths distributed in eastern Paraguay. The forewings are brownish or olive-greenish with variably conspicuous darker markings. Hindwings yellow or orange with traces of dark markings.
Key to species:
1a Hind wing without "net pattern" on orange background. Short, broad, sub-basal band on forewing recalling Adhemarius - Orecta lycidas Boisduval, [1875].
1b Hind wing with "net pattern" on yellow or orange background. Short sub-basal band present, absent or reduced to a spot - Protambulyx 2
2a Forewing with few dark markings. Outer margin of forewing with dark edge of approximately uniform width. Sub-basal mark a small rounded spot. Hindwing base colour tends towards reddish-orange. - Protambulyx strigilis (Linnaeus, 1771)
2b Forewing with many or moderate dark markings. Outer margin of forewing with dark edge that broaden somewhat towards the apex. Sub-basal mark very short band or blotch. Hindwing base colour tends towards yellow or orange - 3
3a Notable dark discal notch on forewing costa. Large size, female forewing 62-70mm, male 48-61mm. Male with black cross line on forewing. - Protambulyx eurycles (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854)
3b Lacks dark discal notch on forewing costa. Moderate size, female forewing 49-57mm, male 40-48mm. No black cross line on forewing in male. - Protambulyx astygonus (Boisduval, 1875)
Possible species:
Protambulyx sulphurea Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 as Protambulyx strigilis but hindwing base colour yellow and dark fringe of outer margin of forewing broadening in the middle rather than of uniform width.
Click on the photo to enlarge it to full size.
Comparative species gallery specimens from the Colección Zoológica Para La Tierra (Laguna Blanca)
A distinctive genus of large, long winged and rather similar hawkmoths distributed in eastern Paraguay. The forewings are brownish or olive-greenish with variably conspicuous darker markings. Hindwings yellow or orange with traces of dark markings.
Key to species:
1a Hind wing without "net pattern" on orange background. Short, broad, sub-basal band on forewing recalling Adhemarius - Orecta lycidas Boisduval, [1875].
1b Hind wing with "net pattern" on yellow or orange background. Short sub-basal band present, absent or reduced to a spot - Protambulyx 2
2a Forewing with few dark markings. Outer margin of forewing with dark edge of approximately uniform width. Sub-basal mark a small rounded spot. Hindwing base colour tends towards reddish-orange. - Protambulyx strigilis (Linnaeus, 1771)
2b Forewing with many or moderate dark markings. Outer margin of forewing with dark edge that broaden somewhat towards the apex. Sub-basal mark very short band or blotch. Hindwing base colour tends towards yellow or orange - 3
3a Notable dark discal notch on forewing costa. Large size, female forewing 62-70mm, male 48-61mm. Male with black cross line on forewing. - Protambulyx eurycles (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854)
3b Lacks dark discal notch on forewing costa. Moderate size, female forewing 49-57mm, male 40-48mm. No black cross line on forewing in male. - Protambulyx astygonus (Boisduval, 1875)
Possible species:
Protambulyx sulphurea Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 as Protambulyx strigilis but hindwing base colour yellow and dark fringe of outer margin of forewing broadening in the middle rather than of uniform width.
Click on the photo to enlarge it to full size.
Comparative species gallery specimens from the Colección Zoológica Para La Tierra (Laguna Blanca)
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.
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.
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COMPARATIVE SPECIMEN GALLERY
Gallery 1 Protambulyx astygonus (Boisduval [1875])
Ambulyx Astygonus Boisduval, [1875]. Histoire naturelle des insectes (Spécies général des lépidoptères - Hétérocères) 1: 188.
Forewing: Male 40-48mm, Female 49-57mm
Distribution: Northern and eastern Oriental region.
FIGURE 1a - (FPSPH0034PH) Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (JP Brouard Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 1b - (FPSPH0035PH) Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay, San Lorenzo (Paul Smith August 2009).
FIGURE 1c - (FPSPH0036PH) Location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org).
Ambulyx Astygonus Boisduval, [1875]. Histoire naturelle des insectes (Spécies général des lépidoptères - Hétérocères) 1: 188.
Forewing: Male 40-48mm, Female 49-57mm
Distribution: Northern and eastern Oriental region.
FIGURE 1a - (FPSPH0034PH) Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (JP Brouard Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 1b - (FPSPH0035PH) Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay, San Lorenzo (Paul Smith August 2009).
FIGURE 1c - (FPSPH0036PH) Location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org).
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Gallery 2 Protambulyx eurycles (Herrich-Schaffer, [1854])
Ambulyx eurycles Herrich-Schaffer, [1854]. Sammlung neuer oder wenig bekannter aussereuropäischer Schmetterlinge 1 (1): 59, wrapper, pl. 22, fig. 102.
Forewing: Male 48-61mm, Female 62-70mm
Distribution: Cordillera, Paraguarí, San Pedro.
FIGURE 2a - (FPSPH0037PH) CZPLT Collection, Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (JP Brouard Para La Tierra).
Ambulyx eurycles Herrich-Schaffer, [1854]. Sammlung neuer oder wenig bekannter aussereuropäischer Schmetterlinge 1 (1): 59, wrapper, pl. 22, fig. 102.
Forewing: Male 48-61mm, Female 62-70mm
Distribution: Cordillera, Paraguarí, San Pedro.
FIGURE 2a - (FPSPH0037PH) CZPLT Collection, Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (JP Brouard Para La Tierra).
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Gallery 3 Protambulyx strigilis (Linnaeus 1771)
Sphinx strigilis Linnaeus, 1771. Mantissa Plantarum Altera 538-539.
Forewing: Male 36-57mm, Female 51-65mm
Distribution: Widespread in the Oriental region.
FIGURE 3a - (FPSPH0038PH) Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith March 2011).
FIGURE 3b - (FPSPH0039PH) Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay, San Lorenzo (Paul Smith August 2009).
FIGURE 3c - (FPSPH0040PH) green form - Location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org).
FIGURE 3d - (FPSPH0041PH) PROCOSARA, Itapúa department (Paul Smith undated).
Sphinx strigilis Linnaeus, 1771. Mantissa Plantarum Altera 538-539.
Forewing: Male 36-57mm, Female 51-65mm
Distribution: Widespread in the Oriental region.
FIGURE 3a - (FPSPH0038PH) Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith March 2011).
FIGURE 3b - (FPSPH0039PH) Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay, San Lorenzo (Paul Smith August 2009).
FIGURE 3c - (FPSPH0040PH) green form - Location unknown (Ulf Drechsel www.pybio.org).
FIGURE 3d - (FPSPH0041PH) PROCOSARA, Itapúa department (Paul Smith undated).
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Gallery 4 Orecta lycidas Boisduval, [1875].
Ambulyx Lycidas Boisduval, [1875]. Histoire naturelle des insectes (Spécies général des lépidoptères - Hétérocères) 1: 191-192.
Forewing: Male 40-44mm, Female 53-59mm
Distribution: Widespread in the Oriental region.
FIGURE 4a - (FPSPH0042PH) CZPLT Collection, Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (JP Brouard Para La Tierra).
Ambulyx Lycidas Boisduval, [1875]. Histoire naturelle des insectes (Spécies général des lépidoptères - Hétérocères) 1: 191-192.
Forewing: Male 40-44mm, Female 53-59mm
Distribution: Widespread in the Oriental region.
FIGURE 4a - (FPSPH0042PH) CZPLT Collection, Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (JP Brouard Para La Tierra).