About Aellopos tantalus Linnaeus, 1758
Aellopos tantalus, commonly called the Tantalus sphinx, is a moth species belonging to the family Sphingidae. This species is distributed in Florida, the Antilles, and the region stretching from Mexico to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, as well as the Amazon basin. The wingspan of adult Aellopos tantalus ranges from 45 to 57 millimetres, which equals 1.8 to 2.2 inches. Adults of this species can be seen active and in flight throughout the entire year. Adult moths feed on nectar from a variety of different flowers, specifically including Eugenia axillaris, Draceana fragrans, and Ernodea littoralis. The larvae of Aellopos tantalus feed on plant species from the Rubiaceae family, with recorded host plants being Casasia clusiifolia and Randia aculeata. Pupation for this species occurs inside loose cocoons, which are located either in shallow underground chambers or within accumulated leaf litter.
