Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Virginia creeper sphinx
Darapsa myron (Cramer, 1780)


Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Forewing upperside is dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint. On the costal margin is a dark rectangular patch, although this may be reduced or absent. Upperside of hindwing is pale orange.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 9/16 inches (4.5 - 6.5 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs in twos or threes on the underside of host leaves. Eggs hatch in 5 or 6 days and the young caterpillars eat their eggshells. Fully-grown caterpillars spin a loose cocoon in fallen leaves on the ground.
Flight: . Several broods throughout the year in Florida, two broods from March-September in the rest of the range.
Caterpillar Hosts: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), and Ampelopsis.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Woodlands and brushy areas.
Range: Maine south to south Florida; west to North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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