Corybantes Hübner, [1819]

García-Díaz, José De Jesús, Espinoza-Sanabria, Bernardo A., Worthy, Robert, González, Jorge M., Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2024, Synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Costa Rica, Zootaxa 5481 (2), pp. 151-202 : 156

II. Corybantes Hübner, [1819]

According to the latest taxonomic revision, this genus has four large species: C. dolopia (H. Druce, 1907) , C. mathani (Oberthür, 1881) , C. pylades (Stoll, 1782) , and C. veraguana ( Westwood, 1877) ( Moraes & Duarte 2014) , although, how closely related they are is open to some doubt ( Worthy et al. 2022). They are largely dark moths that show only slight sexual dimorphism ( Lamas 1995; Vinciguerra 2008; Moraes & Duarte 2014). Most taxa are South American; however, C. veraguana veraguana ( Westwood, 1877) is known from Central America ( Maes & González 2022). Reports indicate that individuals fly during the day (from 9 a.m. to noon), however, some have been collected with mercury vapor light traps at night ( Miller 1986, Vinciguerra 2008; Cock & González 2012; Jean-Michel Maes, pers. comm.). Specimens of the possibly related C. mathani have been observed flying during the morning, but also during the twilight hours in Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela ( Cock & González 2012; Francisco de la Villa, Renato & Roberto Mattei, pers. comm.). Not much is known about the biology, ecology, and behavior of the taxa. Strand (1913) reported that C. pylades larvae feed on bananas ( Musaceae ); while Moss (1945) recorded females of this species ovipositing on various species of palms ( Arecaceae ) in Pará, Brazil. Moss (1945) also pointed out that Acrocomia sclerocarpa Mart. (= Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart. ) ( Arecaceae ) could possibly be the host plant for C. mathani in Pará, Brazil.