SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Pachylia ficus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

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Common Name(s): Fig Sphinx

Ecology:

Adult description:
This is a large distinctive sphingid, forewings are 53-68mm in length (1). The overall color of this moth is brown, however fresh specimens and several populations in South Florida have a green color. The apex of the forewings has a light patch, usually olive green in color. There is often assorted black streaking on the forewings, much more noticeable in females, but may be faint in males (1). The hindwings are a nice green color with a black base and a black line in the middle and a bright white spot on the anal angle. There are no similar species in the US when taking into account the large size and coloration of this moth.

Larval description:
L5:  The larva is highly variable. Final instars can either be black and white in color and resemble bark, or they can be green or blue. The horn is greatly reduced, but not fully absent. The green or blue form larvae have two yellow dorsal stripes that run from head to the horn. The dorsal part of the larva in these forms is much darker than the rest of the larvae. There are also white abdominal streaks that bisect the orange spiracles in these forms. The head capsule is blue-green and has two white lines on it. The bark mimic form is much plainer in comparison, having only brown and white splotching. The spiracles are black in this form, and the head capsule is usually brown instead of green-blue and has black lines instead of white. Prepupal larvae are quite striking, the dorsal region turns bright orange and the rest of the larva becomes turquoise.

Host plants:
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Picture
(C) Roy Morris
Picture
L5 (C) Teá Kesting-Handly
Picture
The gallery to the left contains photos of Pachylia ficus adults. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.

The gallery to the right contains photos of Pachylia ficus larval and pupal stages. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.
(C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
(C) Roy Morris French Guiana
(C) Roy Morris French Guiana
Pupa (C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
L5 - (C) Teá Kesting-Handly

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Macroglossinae

Cautethia grotei
Darapsa choerilus
Darapsa myron
Darapsa versicolor
Deidemia inscriptum
Enyo lugubris
Erinnyis alope
Erinnyis ello
Erinnyis obscura
Eumorpha achemon
Eumorpha fasciatus
Eumorpha intermedia
Eumorpha labruscae
Eumorpha pandorus
Eumorpha satellitia
Eumorpha vitis
Eumorpha typhon​
Hemaris diffinis
Hemaris gracilis
Hemaris thysbe
Hyles euphorbiae
Hyles gallii
Hyles lineata
Pachylia ficus
Proserpinus flavofasciata
Proserpinus gaurae
Pseudosphinx tetrio
Sphecodina abbottii
Xylophanes falco
Xylophanes pluto
Xylophanes tersa

Smerinthinae

Protambulyx strigilis
Amorpha juglandis
Pachysphinx modesta
Paonias astylus
Paonias excaecata
Paonias myops
Smerinthus cerisyi
Smerinthus jamaicensis

Sphinginae

Agrius cingulata
Ceratomia amyntor
Ceratomia catalpae
Ceratomia hageni
Ceratomia undulosa
Cocytius antaeus
Dolba hyloeus
Isoparce cupressi
Lapara bombycoides
Lapara coniferarum
Lintneria istar
Lintneria eremitus
Manduca jasminearum
Manduca occulta
Manduca quinquemaculatus
Manduca rustica
Manduca sexta
Paratrea plebeja
Sphinx canadensis
Sphinx chersis
Sphinx drupiferarum
Sphinx frankii
Sphinx gordius
Sphinx kalmiae
Sphinx luscitiosa
Sphinx poecila 
Copyright © 2018
  • Home
  • Sphingidae Index
    • Macroglossinae >
      • Aellopos >
        • Aellopos fadus
        • Aellopos tantalus
        • Aellopos titan
      • Amphion >
        • Amphion floridensis
      • Cautethia >
        • Cautethia grotei
      • Darapsa >
        • Darapsa versicolor
        • Darapsa myron
        • Darapsa choerilus
      • Deidamia >
        • Deidamia inscriptum
      • Enyo >
        • Enyo lugubris
      • Erinnyis >
        • Erinnyis alope
        • Erinnyis obscura
        • Erinnyis ello
      • Eumorpha >
        • Eumorpha pandorus
        • Eumorpha achemon
        • Eumorpha fasciatus
        • Eumorpha satellitia
        • Eumorpha labruscae
        • Eumorpha intermedia
        • Eumorpha vitis
        • Eumorpha typhon
      • Hemaris >
        • Hemaris thysbe
        • Hemaris gracilis
        • Hemaris diffinis
      • Hyles >
        • Hyles gallii
        • Hyles euphorbiae
        • Hyles lineata
      • Pachylia >
        • Pachylia ficus
      • Proserpinus >
        • Proserpinus flavofasciata
        • Proserpinus gaurae
        • Proserpinus terlooii
      • Pseudosphinx >
        • Pseudosphinx tetrio
      • Sphecodina >
        • Sphecodina abbottii
      • Xylophanes >
        • Xylophanes falco
        • Xylophanes pluto
        • Xylophanes tersa
    • Smerinthinae >
      • Amorpha >
        • Amorpha juglandis
      • Pachysphinx >
        • Pachysphinx modesta
      • Paonias >
        • Paonias excaecata
        • Paonias myops
        • Paonias astylus
      • Protambulyx >
        • Protambulyx strigilis
      • Smerinthus >
        • Smerinthus jamaicensis
        • Smerinthus cerisyi
    • Sphinginae >
      • Agrius >
        • Agrius cingulata
      • Ceratomia >
        • Ceratomia amyntor
        • Ceratomia hageni
        • Ceratomia undulosa
        • Ceratomia catalpae
      • Cocytius >
        • Cocytius antaeus
      • Dolba >
        • Dolba hyloeus
      • Isoparce >
        • Isoparce cupressi
      • Lapara >
        • Lapara coniferarum
        • Lapara bombycoides
      • Lintneria >
        • Lintneria eremitus
        • Lintneria istar
      • Manduca >
        • Manduca sexta
        • Manduca quinquemaculatus
        • Manduca occulta
        • Manduca rustica
        • Manduca jasminearum
      • Paratrea >
        • Paratrea plebeja
      • Sphinx >
        • Sphinx chersis
        • Sphinx franckii
        • Sphinx canadensis
        • Sphinx kalmiae
        • Sphinx gordius
        • Sphinx poecila
        • Sphinx luscitiosa
        • Sphinx drupiferarum
  • Hostplant Index
  • Parasitoids and Predators
  • Range
  • General Information
  • Sources and Acknowledgements
  • Other Resources