Hawkmoths
Guides
Bombycoidea
Hawk, Sphinx, Silk, Emperor, and Allied Moths
Bombycoidea is a superfamily of large-bodied moths comprising 10 families, including the silk moths (Bombycidae), giant silk moths (Saturniidae), sphinx or hawk moths (Sphingidae), and emperor moths (Saturniidae). Members are among the largest moths in the world, with adults typically possessing robust bodies and broad wings. Larvae frequently exhibit distinctive morphological features such as thoracic horns or tubercles. The superfamily is distinguished from close relatives in Lasiocampoidea by a combination of adult and larval characteristics.
Macroglossinae
Macroglossine Sphinx Moths
Macroglossinae is a subfamily of sphinx moths (Sphingidae) comprising three tribes: Dilophonotini, Macroglossini, and Philampelini. Members of this subfamily are characterized by their streamlined bodies and often exhibit specialized feeding behaviors. The subfamily includes diverse species with varying geographic distributions, from the Western Palaearctic to the Neotropics. Some species have been subjects of detailed phylogeographic and taxonomic study due to complex species boundaries and morphological variability.
Xylophanes
Xylophanes is a genus of hawkmoths (Sphingidae) containing over 120 described species, making it the most taxonomically diverse genus in the family. The genus originated in Caribbean-Mesoamerica during the Late Miocene and subsequently diversified across Neotropical bioregions through a two-phase pattern involving high speciation rates in the Andes and Caribbean-Mesoamerica followed by dispersal to Amazonia. Members are strong fliers with high dispersal ability and function as pollinators in their ecosystems.