Lintneria merops (Taxonomy)
Synonymized with Sphinx lugens by Boisduval, [1875], in: Boisduval & Guen├®e, Hist. nat. Insectes (Spec. g├®n. L├®pid. H├®t├®roc├¿res) 1: 88. Reinstated as a species byButler, 1876, Trans. zool. Soc. Lond.9: 619. Erroneously synonymized with Sphinx lugens by Smith, 1888, Trans. Amer. ent. Soc.15: 191. Reinstated as a species by Rothschild & Jordan, 1903, Novit. zool.9 (suppl.): 117 (key), 121. Transferred to Lintneria by Tuttle, 2007, The Hawkmoths of North America: 97.
The prominent stripes on the thorax upperside are reminiscent of those of Lintneria justiciae and Lintneria balsae, which also have similar wing patterns. In all 3 the lateral and mesial edges of the band are black; in Lintneria merops the central part is bright reddish brown, much brighter than in Lintneria justiciae and Lintneria balsae.Abdomen upperside with fringe of tergites without orange-yellow spots. Gnathos less triangular than in Lintneria justiciae.Harpe very similar to that of Lintneria geminus, but shorter and with the dorsal and distal margins dentate. Ostial plate intermediate between those of Lintneria geminus and Lintneria separatus, but more wrinkled than in either, and the distal lateral margins more slanting.