Urania (moth)

Urania is a genus of colorful, dayflying moths in the family Uraniidae, native to warmer parts of the Americas. Their larvae feed on Omphalea.

The genus name Urania is Neo-Latin from Latin Urania from Ancient Greek Ουρανία, one of the Muses, literally 'The Heavenly One'.

Distribution

The genus includes relatively large day-flying moths that are found in Mexico (rarely reaching north to Texas as a vagrant), Central America, warmer parts of South America and the Caribbean islands.

Species

* Urania boisduvalii <small>Guérin-Meneville, 1829</small> – (Cuba)

* Urania brasiliensis <small>Swainson, 1833</small> – (eastern Brazil)

* Urania leilus <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small> – green-banded urania (tropical South America east of the Andes)

* Urania fulgens <small>Walker, 1854</small> – urania swallowtail moth (Mexico, through Central America to northwestern South America)

* Urania poeyi <small>Herrich-Schäffer, 1866</small> – (eastern Cuba)

* Urania sloanus <small>Cramer, 1779</small> – Sloane's urania (Jamaica; extinct 1894)

References

External links