Xylophanes rhodocera (Walker,1856)

Hodecek, Jiri & Haxaire, Jean, 2025, A revised and annotated checklist of the hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of the Dominican Republic, with new records and distribution maps of chosen species, Zootaxa 5701 (4), pp. 401-427 : 421-422

Xylophanes rhodocera (Walker,1856) ( Fig 4. F )

General distribution. Endemic to Hispaniola.

Distribution in the DR. Widespread throughout the country ( Fig 2. D ).

Habitat. Elevation: 0–1740 m asl. An species endemic to the DR that flies in wooded and rainy areas at medium to high elevations, sometimes exceeding 2000 m.

Host plants. Larval stages and host plants unknown.

Material examined.

Hodecek: Valle Nuevo National Park: 18°52'18"N 70°34'22"W, 1015 m, 7/2021, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana, Cap Cana : 18°27'55.5"N 68°26'24.5"W, 66 m, 7/2021, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Constanza, La Vega: 18°59'41"N 70°50'11"W, 1630 m, 6/2023, 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; NP El Choco y Las Cuevas de Cabarete : 19°44'29"N 70°25'32"W, 40 m, 6/2023, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Paraiso, Barahona : 17°59'56"N 71°09'44"W, 99 m, 6/2023, 6 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Sierra de Bahoruco National Park : 18°08'15"N 71°32'38"W, 1400 m, 6/2023, 7 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; Constanza, La Vega: 18°59'43"N 70°49'23"W, 1740 m, 5/2024, 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; Ebano Verde : 19°01'59"N 70°32'35"W, 1100 m, 5/2024, 4 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; La Romana caves: 18°22'22"N 68°48'48"W, 5 m, 5/2024, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Pedernales province : 18°06'24"N 71°37'12"W, 700 m, 5/2024, 6 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Pedernales province : 18°06'45.5"N 71°37'16"W, 750 m, 5/2024, 3 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana, Macao: 18°43'50"N 68°29'51"W, 9 m, 5/2024, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Valle Nuevo National Park : 18°53'00"N 70°33'56.5"W, 660 m, 5/2024, 4 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek.

Haxaire: Monseñor Nouel, route from El Blanco to Constanza pk 10, Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve : 19°01'44"N 70°30'59"W, 1361 m, 8/08/2007, 3 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Monseñor Nouel, Route from Cotui to Piedra Blanca , Maimón : 18°53'11"N 70°17'55"W, 151 m, 9/08/2007, 1 ♀, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Monseñor Noel ( Bonao), Hoya del Pino : 250 m, 11/04/2016, 3 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire; Rio Yaque de Norte , La Vega ( Manaboa ): 19°04'27"N 70°49'37"W, 958 m, 14/04/2016, 5 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire; Village of Manaboa , La Vega ( Manaboa ): 19°04'26"N 70°47'55"W, 900 m, 14/04/2016, 4 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire; Route from Masaco to Quatro Bocas , Polo , Las Auyamas ( Barahona): 18°02'32"N 71°18'23"W, 816 m, 19/04/2016, 5 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire; Route from Breton to Quatro Bocas , Las Auyamas ( Barahona): 18°02'32"N 71°18'23"W, 997 m, 20/04/2016, 2 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire; Bonao , Hydroelectric Plant Hoyo de Piño, Monseñor Noel: 18°52'59"N 70°29'55"W, 453 m, 19/02/2017, 5 ♂, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Pedernales, Route Cabo Rojo to El Aceitillar, Sierra de Bahoruco: 18°07'02"N 71°36'58"W, 896 m, 24/02/2017, 7 ♂, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit; La Vega, trail from Manabao to La Ciénega, Rio Yaque de Norte : 19°04'27"N 70°49'37"W, 951 m, 26/02/2017, 5 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Constanza, trail from Tireo Abajo to Sonador ( La Vega): 18°53'40"N 70°40'16"W, 1561 m, 27/02/2017, 4 ♂, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Route from El Escuchadero to Constanza ( La Vega): 18°59'06"N 70°48'24"W, 1800 m, 25/02/2019, 1 ♀ 1 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distributions of selected species of Sphingidae in the Dominican Republic.

FIGURE 4. Photographs of some of the hawkmoths recorded from the Dominican Republic:A) Lintneria tricolor, B) Callionima calliomenae,C)Cautethianoctuiformis,D) Pachyliasyces insularis,E)Eumorphastrenua,F)Xylophanesrhodocera. Photographs by Jiri Hodecek (B, E), Jean Haxaire (A, C, F) and josstory (D, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19799563).