Manduca brontes haitiensis (Clark, 1916)

Hodecek, Jiri & Haxaire, Jean, 2025, A revised and annotated checklist of the hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of the Dominican Republic, with new records and distribution maps of chosen species, Zootaxa 5701 (4), pp. 401-427 : 407

Manduca brontes haitiensis (Clark, 1916) ( Fig 3. D )

General distribution. Endemic to Hispaniola.

Distribution in the DR. Widespread throughout the country ( Fig 1. B ).

Habitat. Elevation 0–1200 m asl. The species flies in wooded environments at low to medium elevations, but also in semi-desert areas and dry forests.

Host plants. The caterpillar of the subspecies Manduca brontes cubensis (Grote, 1865) is known to feed on Tecoma stans ( Bignoniaceae ), so Manduca brontes haitiensis is likely to be found on the same plant, which is present on the island.

Material examined.

Hodecek: Paraiso, Barahona: 17°59'57"N 71°09'42"W, 99 m, 7/2021, 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana , Cap Cana: 18°27'55.5"N 68°26'24.5"W, 66 m, 7/2021, 2 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; Valle Nuevo National Park : 18°52'18"N 70°34'22"W, 1015 m, 7/2021, 2 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Valle Nuevo National Park : 18°53'00"N 70°33'56.5"W, 660 m, 7/2021, 4 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; Jaragua National Park : 17°47'32"N 71°27'38"W, 123 m, 6/2023, 5 ♂ 5 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; Paraiso , Barahona: 17°59'56"N 71°09'44"W, 99 m, 6/2023, 2 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana , Macao: 18°43'50"N 68°29'51"W, 9 m, 6/2023, 5 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Valle Nuevo National Park : 18°53'10"N 70°33'44"W, 650 m, 6/2023, 2 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek;

Haxaire: La Vega, 8 km from La Cienaga: 950 m, 23/05/1998, 2 ♂; La Vega, 17 km from Constanza : 1200 m, 24/05/1998, 1 ♂; Pedernales, Jaragua Park : 50 m, 29/05/1998, 1 ♂; Pedernales, Road Oviedo-Pedernales km 17, Jaragua National Park : 11/05/2004, 4 ♂ 3 ♀, leg. Jérôme Barbut; Monseñor Nouel, road from El Blanco to Constanza pk 10, Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve : 19°01'44"N 70°30'59"W, 1361 m, 8/08/2007, 5 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Pedernales, trail from Pedernales to Los Arroyos pk 6: 18°07'28"N 71°43'33"W, 367 m, 12/08/2007, 1 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Azua, trail from Padre Las Casas to Guyabal pk 2: 18°45'13"N 70°55'05"W, 586 m, 14/08/2007, 5 ♂ 3 ♀, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Monseñor Nouel, road from El Blanco to Constanza pk 10, Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve : 19°01'44"N 70°30'59"W, 1361 m, 15/08/2007, 3 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Route from Masaco to Quatro Bocas , Polo , Las Auyamas ( Barahona): 18°02'32"N 71°18'23"W, 816 m, 19/04/2016, 5 ♂ 4 ♀, leg. Jean Haxaire; Monte Cristi, road northeast of Botoncillo pk 4: 19°46'13"N 71°24'03"W, 125 m, 1/03/2017, 5 ♂, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit [ CJHL].

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distributions of selected species of Sphingidae in the Dominican Republic.

FIGURE 3. Photographs of some of the hawkmoths recorded from the Dominican Republic: A) Manduca caribbeus, B) Manduca johanni, C) Nannoparce poeyi, D) Manduca brontes haitiensis, E) Erinnyis guttularis, F) Isognathus rimosus molitor. Photographs by Jiri Hodecek (A, C, D) and Jean Haxaire (B, E, F).