Apocynaceae
Guides
Chrysochus
dogbane leaf beetles, milkweed beetles
Chrysochus is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae, established in 1836 by Louis Alexandre Auguste Chevrolat. The genus name derives from Greek χρυσοχόος, meaning 'goldsmith,' referencing the striking metallic coloration of its members. The genus contains at least eight described species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia, with six species in the Palearctic realm and two in North America. Species in this genus are specialized herbivores of plants in the dogbane and milkweed families (Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae).
Danaus eresimus
Soldier, Tropical Queen
Danaus eresimus, commonly known as the Soldier or Tropical Queen, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae distributed across North America, the Caribbean, and South America. It is a milkweed butterfly that sequesters cardiac glycosides from host plants for chemical defense. The species is closely related to the Monarch and Queen butterflies, sharing similar orange and black coloration but distinguished by specific wing pattern details. It has been documented utilizing multiple Apocynaceae species as larval hosts, including a recently recorded association with Telminostelma foetidum in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Pseudosphinx
tetrio sphinx, giant gray sphinx, frangipani hornworm, plumeria caterpillar, Rasta caterpillar
Pseudosphinx is a monotypic moth genus in the family Sphingidae, containing only Pseudosphinx tetrio. The genus is notable for its highly specialized herbivory on toxic Apocynaceae plants and its striking aposematic larval coloration. Adults are large brown sphinx moths with 12.7–14 cm wingspans. The caterpillars are among the largest hornworms in the Americas, exceeding 15 cm in length, and are serious defoliators of ornamental Plumeria species throughout the tropical and subtropical Americas.
Pseudosphinx tetrio
tetrio sphinx, giant gray sphinx, frangipani hornworm, plumeria caterpillar, Rasta caterpillar
Pseudosphinx tetrio is a sphinx moth (Sphingidae) native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Its larvae are specialized herbivores of Apocynaceae plants, particularly Allamanda cathartica and Plumeria species. The species exhibits a distinctive chemical ecology strategy: larvae selectively excrete plant-derived compounds rather than sequestering or metabolizing them, enabling them to feed on toxic host plants rich in latex. The caterpillars display aposematic coloration—velvety black with yellow rings and orange-red head and legs—advertising their unpalatability to predators.