Cautethia noctuiformis (Walker, 1856)

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 : 415

Cautethia noctuiformis (Walker, 1856) ( Fig 4. C )

General distribution. Endemic to Hispaniola.

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

Habitat. Elevation 0– 700 m. The insect is sometimes very abundant. It avoids mountainous areas and deep forests, its ecological preference being clearly xerophilous in low-elevation semi-desert biotopes.

Host plants. Its larval stages are not known, but it is likely that the host plant is of the family Rubiaceae .

Material examined.

Hodecek: Piky Lora National Park: 19°24'47"N 70°56'26"W, 242 m, 7/2021, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Jaragua National Park : 17°47'32"N 71°27'38"W, 123 m, 7/2021, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Paraiso, Barahona : 17°59'57"N 71°09'42"W, 99 m, 7/2021, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Jaragua National Park : 17°47'32"N 71°27'38"W, 123 m, 6/2023, 13 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; NP El Choco y Las Cuevas de Cabarete : 19°44'29"N 70°25'32"W, 40 m, 6/2023, 2 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Paraiso, Barahona : 17°59'56"N 71°09'44"W, 99 m, 6/2023, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Pedernales province : 18°06'24"N 71°37'12"W, 700 m, 6/2023, 2 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana : 18°36'25"N 68°21'05"W, 4 m, 6/2023, 2 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana , Macao: 18°43'50"N 68°29'51"W, 9 m, 6/2023, 46 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Jaragua National Park : 17°47'32"N 71°27'38"W, 123 m, 5/2024, 2 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. J. Hodecek; La Romana caves: 18°22'22"N 68°48'48"W, 5 m, 5/2024, 3 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Pedernales province : 18°06'24"N 71°37'12"W, 700 m, 5/2024, 1 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana , Macao: 18°43'50"N 68°29'51"W, 9 m, 5/2024, 10 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek; Punta Cana , quarry: 18°36'28"N 68°21'02"W, 3 m, 5/2024, 7 ♂, leg. J. Hodecek.

Haxaire: Pedernales, trail from Pedernales to Los Arroyos pk 6: 18°07'28"N 71°43'33"W, 367 m, 12/08/2007, 8 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Pedernales, route Oviedo to Pedernales pk 20: 17°56'10"N 71°34'34"W, 159 m, 13/08/2007, 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, 13 ♂, leg. Jean Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Pedernales, route Oviedo to Pedernales, trail Jaragua National Park : 17°48'46"N 71°26'32"W, 90 m, 21/02/2017, 11 ♂, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Pedernales, Route Cabo Rojo to El Aceitillar, Sierra de Bahoruco: 18°00'35"N 71°38'48"W, 108 m, 23/02/2017, 8 ♂, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Pedernales, Route Cabo Rojo to El Aceitillar, Sierra de Bahoruco: 18°07'02"N 71°36'58"W, 896 m, 24/02/2017, 15 ♂, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit; Monte Cristi, road northeast of Botoncillo pk 4: 19°46'13"N 71°24'03"W, 125 m, 1/03/2017, 55 ♂ 18 ♀, leg. J. Haxaire & Odile Paquit.

Figures

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

FIGURE 4. Photographs of some of the hawkmoths recorded from the Dominican Republic:A) Lintneria tricolor, B) Callionima calliomenae,C)Cautethianoctuiformis,D) Pachyliasyces insularis,E)Eumorphastrenua,F)Xylophanesrhodocera. Photographs by Jiri Hodecek (B, E), Jean Haxaire (A, C, F) and josstory (D, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19799563).