Hawkmoths of Brazil by Alan Martin
Small Nocturnal Dilophonotini
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Enyo cavifer (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903) Common name: none
Original description: Epistor cavifer Rothschild & Jordan, 1903. Novit. Zool. 9 (suppl.): 403 (key), 407.
Synonymous species: Enyo cavifer paganus (Kernbach, 1957); Thyreus maris (Herrich-
Type specimen locality: Colombia
Distribution: widespread across South America and has been recorded from Brazil and Bolivia to southern Mexico. In Brazil it has been recorded from the North, South and South-
Enyo gorgon (Cramer, 1777) Common name: none
Original description: Sphinx gorgon Cramer, 1777. Uitlandsche Kapellen (Papillons exot.). 2:73, pl. 142, fig. E.
Synonymous species: Epistor gorgon heinrichi (Clark, 1932); Sphinx lyctus (Cramer, 1779)
Type specimen locality: Surinam
Distribution: found from Mexico to Argentina and relatively common in Brazil, where it has been recorded from all 5 regions.
Enyo taedium australis (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903) Common name: none
Original description: Epistor taedium australis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903. Novit. zool.. 9 (suppl.): 407.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Brazil, Petropolis
Distribution: the nominative subspecies has been recorded from Venezuela and Brazil but the status of subspecies australis is considered doubtful. A single specimen of E. t. australis was collected in Petropolis (South-
Enyo lugubris lugubris (Linnaeus, 1771) Common name: Mournful Sphinx
Original description: Sphinx lugubris Linnaeus, 1771. Mantissa Plantarum Altera 537.
Synonymous species: Sphinx fegeus (Cramer, 1779); Epistor luctuosus (Boisduval, [1875])
Type specimen locality: Antigua
Distribution: a widespread species across Central and South America but is replaced by the subspecies E. l. delanoi (Kernbach, 1962) in the Galapagos Islands. In the USA it breeds from South Carolina through the southern portion of the gulf coast to the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas, but individuals have strayed as far north as Michigan and south-
Enyo ocypete (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: none
Original description: Sphinx ocypete Linnaeus, 1758. Systema Naturae (Edn. 10). 1: 489.
Synonymous species: Sphinx camertus (Cramer, 1779); Sphinx danum (Cramer, 1779)
Type specimen locality: Neotropical Region
Distribution: a widespread species found across most of the Neotropical region with a few stray records from as far north as southern Florida. It has been recorded in all 5 regions of Brazil.
Aleuron chloroptera (Perty, [1833]) Common name: none
Original description: Sphinx chloroptera Perty, [1833]. Delectus Animalium Articulatorum Bras. 155.
Synonymous species: Aleuron chloroptera Boisduval, 1870; Aleuron disis Boisduval, [1875]
Type specimen locality: south west, Brazil
Distribution: found throughout the Neotropical region from Mexico to Argentina. It has been recorded from all 5 Brazilian regions.
Aleuron prominens (Walker, 1856) Common name: none
Original description: Enyo prominens Walker, 1856. List Specimens Lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus.. 8: 115
Synonymous species: Aleuron pudens Boisduval, [1875]; Tylognathus smerinthoides (R.Felder, [1874])
Type specimen locality: Brazil
Distribution: an endemic of Brazil and has only been recorded from the South-
Aleuron carinata (Walker, 1856) Common name: none
Original description: Enyo carinata Walker, 1856. List Spec. Lepid. Insects Colln. Br. Mus. 8: 117
Synonymous species: Aleuron orophilos Boisduval, [1875]; Aleuron philampeloides (R.Felder, [1874])
Type specimen locality: Para, Brazil
Distribution: found from Mexico to Bolivia, and in the North, South and South-
Aleuron iphis (Walker, 1856) Common name: none
Original description: Enyo iphis Walker, 1856. List Specimens Lepid. Insects Colln. Br. Mus. 8: 116.
Synonymous species: Calliomma volatica (Clemens, 1859); Tylognathus scriptor (R. Felder, [1874])
Type specimen locality: Brazil
Distribution: this species can be found widely across the Neotropical region from Mexico to northern Argentina, and in all 5 regions of Brazil.
Aleuron neglectum neglectum Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 Common name: none
Original description: Aleuron neglectum Rothschild & Jordan, 1903. Novit. Zoologicae 9 (suppl.): 395 (key), 398.
Synonymous species: Rhodosoma flavidus (Zhu & Wang, 1997); Aleuron leo Clark, 1935; Aleuron neglectum paraguayana Clark, 1931
Type specimen locality: Iquitos [Peru]
Distribution: this species can be found widely across the Neotropical region from Mexico to northern Argentina, and in all regions of Brazil with the exception of the North-
Aleuron ypanemae (Boisduval, [1875]) Common name: none
Original description: Tylognathus ypanemae Boisduval, [1875]. Hist. nat. Insectes (Spec. gén. Lépid. Hétérocères). 1: 295.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Brazil, Ypanema
Distribution: an endemic of Brazil but only recorded from the South-
Perigonia lusca lusca (Fabricius, 1777) Common name: Coffee Sphinx
Original description: Sphinx lusca Fabricius, 1777. Genera Insectorum 272.
Synonymous species: Macroglossa doto (Schaufuss, 1870); Macroglossa doto affinis (Schaufuss, 1870); Perigonia restituta Walker, [1865]; Perigonia lusca bahamensis Clark, 1919; Perigonia interrupta Walker, [1865]; Perigonia lusca major Clark, 1928; Stenolophia tenebrosa (R. Felder, [1874])
Type specimen locality: Meridian America
Distribution: the nominate species P. l. lusca can be found in the Neotropical region from Mexico to Brazil, and is also locally common in parts of Florida (Tuttle, 2007). It can be found in all 5 regions of Brazil. The only subspecies P. l. continua Vasquez-
Perigonia passerina Boisduval, [1875] Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia passerina, Boisduval [1875]. Hist. nat. Insectes (Spec. gén. Lépid. Hétérocères). 1: 327
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: unknown
Distribution: found in Bolivia and Brazil where it has only been recorded from the North-
Perigonia ilus Boisduval, 1870 Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia ilus Boisduval, 1870. Considerations Lepid. Guatemala: 66
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Honduras and Mexico
Distribution: widely distributed through Central and South America. In Brazil it has been recorded from the North, South-
Perigonia pallida Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia pallida Rothschild & Jordan, 1903. Novit. Zoologicae 9 (suppl): 424 (key), 425.
Synonymous species: Perigonia pallida rufescens Daniel, 1949
Type specimen locality: Venezuela
Distribution: found from Guatemala to Bolivia and Paraguay, and in Brazil across all 5 regions.
Perigonia stulta Herrich-
Original description: Perigonia stulta Herrich-
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Surinam
Distribution: found across the Neotropical region from Guatemala to southern and south-
Perigonia leucopus Rothschild & Jordan, 1910 Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia leucopus, Rothschild & Jordan, 1910. Nov. Zool. 17: 456-
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Matto Grosso
Distribution: an endemic to Brazil and only reported from the North, North-
Nyceryx alophus alophus (Boisduval, [1875]) Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia alophus Boisduval, [1875]. Hist. Nat. Insectes (Spec. Gen. Lepid. Heteroceres). 1: 323.
Synonymous species: Nyceryx alophus tristis Jorgensen, 1934
Type specimen locality: Bahia [Brazil]
Distribution: the nominate species can be found from central Brazil to Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. It appears to favour higher altitudes (pers. comm.). It has been recorded from the West-
Nyceryx nephus (Boisduval, [1875]) Common name: none
Original description: Nyceryx nephus (Boisduval, [1875]). Hist. Nat. Insectes (Spec. Gen. Lepid. Heteroceres). 1: 323.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Brazil
Distribution: known from a specimem collected from Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio State but further work is required to clarify this group of species.
Nyceryx lemonia Gehlen, 1941 Common name: none
Original description: Nyceryx lemonia Gehlen, 1941. Neue Sphingiden 185.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: South America
Distribution: found in northern Argentina, Bolivia and North-
Nyceryx continua (Walker, 1856) Common name: none
Original description: Lophura continua Walker, 1856. List Specimens Lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus. 8: 108.
Synonymous species: Perigonia distans, (Boisduval, [1875])
Type specimen locality: Brazil, Espirito Santo
Distribution: Nyceryx continua is found across the South and South-
Nyceryx brevis Becker, 2001 Common name: none
Original description: Nyceryx brevis, 2001. Revta bras. Zool . 18 (1): 159-
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Brazil, Bahia
Distribution: recently discovered and very rare. It has only been found at higher elevations with scattered low savanna trees and bushes. An endemic of Brazil found in the North-
Nyceryx magna (R. Felder, [1874]) Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia magna R.Felder [1875]. Reise ost Fregatte Novara (Zool.) 2 (Abt. 2) pl.75 fig. 12.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Peru
Distribution: reported from Costa Rica to Peru and the North of Brazil.
Nyceryx nictitans (Boisduval, [1875]) Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia nictitans Boisduval, [1875]. Hist. Nat. Insectes (Spec. Gen. Lepid. Heteroceres). 1: 322.
Synonymous species: Perigonia subaurea (Kohler, 1924)
Type specimen locality: Minas Gerais [Brazil]
Distribution: found in the South and South-
Nyceryx riscus (Schaus, 1890) Common name: none
Original description: Enyo riscus Schaus, 1890. Entomologica Americana 6: 20.
Synonymous species: Pachygonia creusa Rothschild, 1894
Type specimen locality: Mexico
Distribution: occurs widely across the Neotropical region from Mexico to northern Argentina. It has been recorded from all the regions of Brazil with the exception of the North-
Nyceryx stuarti (Rothschild, 1894) Common name: none
Original description: Pachygonia stuarti Rothschild, 1894. Novit. Zool. 1 (4): 665.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Rio Cachyaco, Iquitos, Peru
Distribution: reported from Costa Rica to Bolivia. In Brazil it has only been reported from the North and West-
Nyceryx janzeni Haxaire, 2005 Common name: none
Original description: Nyceryx janzeni, 2005. Lambillionea 105: 584.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Bolivia
Distribution: reported from Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and the Northern region of Brazil.
Nyceryx coffaeae (Walker, 1856) Common name: none
Original description: Perigonia coffaeae Walker, 1856. List Specimens Lepid. Insects Colln Br. Mus. 8: 101.
Synonymous species: Macroglossa abboti (Schaufuss, 1870); Pachygonia boisduvalii (Butler, 1876)
Type specimen locality: Brazil
Distribution: this species occurs widely across the Neotropical region from Mexico to Bolivia. It has been found in all regions of Brazil except the South.
Nyceryx furtadoi Haxaire, 1996 Common name: none
Original description: Nyceryx furtadoi Haxaire, 1996. Lambillionea. 96: 351.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Brazil, Matto Grosso
Distribution: found in Bolivia, northern Argentina, Paraguay and West-
Nyceryx mielkei Haxaire, 2009 Common name: none
Original description: Nyceryx mielkei, 2009. The European Entomologist, Vol. 2, No. 1-
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Maranhao. Brazil
Distribution: an endemic to Brazil and only found in Maranhao State (in the North-
Nyceryx ericea (Druce, 1888) Common name: none
Original description: Pachygonia ericea Druce, 1888. Ann. Mag. N.H. (6) ii p235.
Synonymous species: Nyceryx ericea minor Clark, 1916.
Type specimen locality: Panama
Distribution: reported from Guatemala to Bolivia, Venezuela, French Guiana and South and South-
Baniwa yavitensis Lichy, 1981 Common name: none
Original description: Baniwa yavitensis, Lichy 1981. Boln. Ent. Venezolana (NS) 1 (5): 57-
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Venezuela
Distribution: reported only from Venezuela and the north of Brazil.
Unzela japix (Cramer, 1776) Common name: none
Original description: Sphinx japix Cramer, [1776]. Uitl. Kapellen 1 (8): 137, pl. 87, f.C.
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Brazil
Distribution: the nominate race Unzela japix japix (Cramer, 1776) occurs from Mexico to Amazonia and central Bolivia but is replaced by the subspecies U. japix discrepans Walker, 1856 in southern Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Records from the North, North-
Unzela pronoe Druce, 1894 Common name: none
Original description: Unzela variegata Druce, 1894. Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist. 13: 168-
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: British Honduras
Distribution: the nominate race occurs in Central America and south through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia and east through Venezuela and the Guianas to the North of Brazil. The subspecies U.p.fuscatus (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903) is restricted to the South and South-
Eupyrrhoglossum sagra (Poey, 1832) Common name: Cuban Sphinx
Original description: Macroglossa sagra Poey, 1832. Centurie Lepid. Ile Cuba (1): Num. [19].
Synonymous species: Macroglossa harpyia (Schaufuss, 1870); Macroglossa sagra (Walker, 1856)
Type specimen locality: Cuba
Distribution: found across the Neotropical region including the Caribbean Islands and Cuba, and has recently been found breeding in southern Florida (Tuttle, 2007). Is has been reported from all 5 regions of Brazil.
Eupyrrhoglossum venustum Rothschild & Jordan, 1910 Common name: none
Original description: Eupyrrhoglossum venustrum Rothschild & Jordan, 1910. Novit. Zool. 17: 453
Synonymous species: none
Type specimen locality: Amazonas
Distribution: reported from Colombia, Venezuela and the Northern region of Brazil.
Note: the Nyceryx genus is highly complex and needs further work to accurately separate the species and determine the identifying features.