Aellopos tantalus
Introduction thumb'''''Aellopos tantalus''''', known as the '''Tantalus sphinx''', is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found in Florida, the Antilles, from Mexico to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, and in the Amazon basin.The wingspan is . Adults are on wing year-round. The adults feed on nectar of various flowers, including ''Eugenia axillaris'', ''Draceana fragrans'' and ''Ernodea littoralis''.The larvae feed on Rubiaceae species, including ''Casasia clusiifolia'' and ''Randia aculeata''. Pupation takes place in loose cocoons in shallow underground chambers or in leaf litter.
Subspecies *''Aellopos tantalus tantalus''*''Aellopos tantalus zonata'' (Drury, 1773) (St. Kitts and Mexico)
References
External links * "''Aellopos tantalus'' (Linnaeus 1758)". ''Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of the French Antilles''. * "Tantalus sphinx ''Aellopos tantalus'' (Linnaeus, 1758)". ''Butterflies and Moths of North America''.