Episcepsis leneus (Cramer, [1779])

Original description, as Sphinx leneus: Cramer, P. ([1779]). De uitlandsche
Kapellen voorkomende in de drie Waereld-Deelen Asia, Africa en America
(Papillons exotiques des trois parties du monde), vol. 3: p. 95, pl. 248 fig. G.
Translated from the Dutch original (with parallel French text).

Fig. G. Leneus. Has thread-like antennae. The wings beneath do not differ from
the upper side, namely brown. The tip of the forewings is white, and on the
hindwings in the middle there is a white spot. The abdomen is covered with
glittering sky-blue hairs. It may likewise be placed among the Bastard
Hawk-moths [Sphinx adscitae]. It is found in Surinam.

Hampson, G. F. (1898). Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British
Museum, vol. 1 (Syntomidae): pp. 385-386, species no. 856.

856. Episcepsis leneus.

Sphinx leneus, Cram. Pap. Exot. iii. pl. 248. G (1780); Druce, Biol. Centr.-Am.,
Het. i. p. 74; Kirby, Cat. Het. p. 164.

Male. Head and thorax fuscous brown; back of head and shoulders with paired
crimson spots; fore coxae crimson; abdomen metallic blue, the dorsal patch of
hair brown; the ventral surface fuscous, with white patches on first three
segments. Fore wing fuscous brown, with apical white patch. Hind wing fuscous
with a slight bluish tinge; some hyaline in, below, and beyond cell; the tuft on
inner area white.

Female. Abdomen without white patches below.

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Trujillo), 1 female; Costa Rica (Zürcher, Underwood), 2
males 1 female, Godman-Salvin Coll.; British Guiana, Demerara, 1 male. Exp. 36
millim.

Draudt, M. (1915). Episcepsis. In: Seitz, A. (ed.), The Macrolepidoptera of the
World, vol. 6, The American Bombyces and Sphinges: p. 129, pl. 20 b (German
edition: Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 6: 129); as E. lenaeus.

E. lenaeus Cr. (20 b). Head, thorax and forewings dark sepia-coloured, the
latter with a white apical spot; the hindwings in the disc diaphanous, otherwise
slate-coloured. In the neck 2 carmine spots. The bright red forehips separate
the species easily from the very similar thetis. Abdomen above metallic blue,
the hair at the base blackish-brown. The hair-tufts in the anal fold white in
the male. Distributed from Mexico through Central America as far as Guiana and
Surinam.