Taxonomic changes in Brazilian Sphingidae

In 2011, REGUA published its first field guide, A Guide to the Hawkmoths of the Serra dos Órgãos, Southeast Brazil, which described and illustrated the 110 species that can be found in this area. However, since then, a number of taxonomic changes have occurred, which are covered and compiled in a comprehensive article recently published in European Entomologist (Vol 11, No 3 + 4) by J. Haxaire and C. G. Mielke, which provides the most recent list of all species occurring in Brazil, but also introduces several new species. All of these species have been updated on the Hawkmoths of Brazil website, but of particular interest to the REGUA area are: a new species Protambulyx pearsoni has been separated from P. sulphurea and replaces it in Serra dos Órgãos. A new species, Manduca exiguus, was separated from M. contracta and was recorded for the State of Rio de Janeiro, but as far as we know it has not yet been found in the Serra dos Órgãos.

Manduca paphus is now recognized as a distinct species and has been split from M. sexta. Nyceryx nephus was elevated to species status based on a single specimen collected at Cachoeiras de Macacu. Isognathus brasiliensis has been split from I. swainsonii and replaces it in the Serra dos Órgãos and southeastern Brazil. Eumorpha orientis is now recognized as a distinct species, having been split from E. obliquus.

Xylophanes reussi has been separated from X. marginalis , but both appear to share the same general distribution. A new species, Xylophanes crenulata, has been separated from X. ceratomioides. Only X. crenulata is believed to occur in the Serra dos Órgãos.

Two new species Xylophanes alineae and X. soaresi have been separated from X. porcus continentalis, both of which are found in the Serra dos Órgãos.

Apparently, it is likely that Errinyis ello will also be divided into two distinct species: the population that feeds mainly on cassava, becoming a pest of this crop, and those that live in the forest, and the entire complex group of the genus Nycerx is also under analysis.

Data: 26/11/21