''Amphimoea'' is a monotypic

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

genus in the family Sphingidae erected by

Walter Rothschild Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild, (8 February 1868 – 27 August 1937) was a British banker, politician, zoologist and soldier, who was a member of the Rothschild family. As a Zionist leader, he was present ...

and Karl Jordan in 1903. Its only species, ''Amphimoea walkeri'', the Darwin hawkmoth, described by

Jean Baptiste Boisduval Jean Baptiste Alphonse Déchauffour de Boisduval (24 June 1799 – 30 December 1879) was a French lepidopterist, botanist, and physician. He was one of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, and was the co-founder of the Société entomol ...

in 1875, is found from

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

south to

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

Description

The wingspan is 147–164 mm. Adults are on wing year round. They have the longest insect

proboscis A proboscis () is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular mouthparts used for feeding and sucking. In vertebrates, a proboscis is an elong ...

in the world and nectar from deep-throated flowers while hovering in the air.

Biology

The larvae feed on '' Anaxagorea crassipetala''.

Gallery

Amphimoea walkeri MHNT CUT 2010 0 160 Alto Palmar Chapare Bolivia female dorsal.jpg, Female Amphimoea walkeri MHNT CUT 2010 0 160 Alto Palmar Chapare Bolivia female ventral.jpg, Female underside Amphimoea walkeri MHNT CUT 2010 0 70 Guapimirim caneca fina male dorsal.jpg, Male Amphimoea walkeri MHNT CUT 2010 0 70 Guapimirim caneca fina male ventral.jpg, Male underside

References

Sphingini Monotypic moth genera Moths described in 1875 Moths of North America Sphingidae of South America Taxa named by Walter Rothschild Taxa named by Karl Jordan Taxa named by Jean Baptiste Boisduval {{Sphinginae-stub