Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
First described by
Linnaeus in 1758 as
Sphinx tantalusExplanation of Names
Evidently from Greek
Tantalos (Τανταλος), a figure in Greek mythology- but the connection isn't obvious.
Range
Recorded from New York, and Michigan, but in our area probably established only in southern Florida. Mostly tropical.
Season
Year-round in the tropics
Food
Larvae feed on plants in the family Rubiaceae, with the best-documented species being Casasia clusiifolia, the Seven-Year Apple.
Adults feed on nectar
Life Cycle
The female lays eggs on tender new growth of the hostplant, where the larvae feed until ready to pupate. At that time, they change color from green or brown to dark red and crawl down to the ground, where they build a pupation chamber, made with leaves held together by silk, under a few inches of leaf litter. In the Florida Keys there's no evidence of diapause, though their development slows in cooler weather.
Remarks
The larval stages aren't well documented, with the first detailed information published in 1980 (see Internet references)
