American Swallowtail Moths

American swallowtail moths (Fig. 44), family Sematuridae, total 36 Neotropical species, one of which just reaches into the United States, in southern Arizona. The family is in the superfamily Uranioidea, in the section Cossina, subsection Bombycina, of the division Ditrysia. Adults medium to large (42–100 mm wingspan), with head roughened and eyes large; haustellum naked; labial palpi upcurved, with long second segment and correctly angled short, smooth apical segment; maxillary palpi minute, 1-segmented; antennae thickened, with elongated club (slightly hooked at tip).

Wings triangular, with hindwings tailed (usually hindwings with some emarginations); body sometimes robust. Maculation various shades of darker brown, with vertical lines and bands, often brightly colored in the hindwings; often with eyespots on the tails. Adults are nocturnal but some may be crepuscular. Larvae are leaf feeders, but few known biologically. Host plants are unrecorded.

Figure 44 Example of American swallowtail moths Sematuridae), Sematura lunus (Linnaeus), from Costa Rica.