Obscure sphinx
Erinnyis obscura (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Upperside of the female forewing is dark gray to brownish gray with black markings on the basal half and near the center of the costa; some females are nearly all black. Upperside of the male forewing is pale gray with black markings and a black line in the center running from the base to about three-fourths of the wing length. In both sexes, the hindwing upperside is orange with a narrow black border.
Wing Span: 2 3/16 - 2 9/16 inches (5.6 - 6.5 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding at sunset. Caterpillars pupate in cocoons spun on the soil surface.
Flight: . Several flights throughout the year in the tropics, south Florida, and South Texas. One flight from August-October northward.
Caterpillar Hosts: Papaya (Carica papaya), various plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) including Philibertia and Cynanchum species, and various plants in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) including Poinsettia.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands.
Range: Uruguay north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to Florida, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. Has strayed to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania.
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.
Comments: NULL
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 146 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 22, 2012
Submitted by: stanggirl70
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 25, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 10, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Marilyn Jones)
Region: Texas, Mason County, United States
Verified by: lorispencer (Lori Spencer)
Verified date: Apr 08, 2009
Observation date: Sep 03, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sheeley, R.D.)
Region: Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 29, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 09, 1966
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: McDonald County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 21, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Letsinger, Rae)
Region: Jasper County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 18, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Smart, Glen)
Region: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Oct 14, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lewis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 11, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Barry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Wright County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1913
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: St. Louis City County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Schroers)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 30, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Letsinger, Rae)
Region: Jasper County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 11, 1947
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Craig, W.S.)
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 17, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lewis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 14, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Jackson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 04, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Adams, James)
Region: Clay County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 01, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jan 20, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Brock)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Oct 02, 1979
Submitted by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Region: Nobles County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Jul 10, 2008
Observation date: Jan 01, 1970
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard B. Dominick Moth and Butterfly Collection)
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Dr. F. Lance Wallace of The Citadel, Charleston SC)
Verified date: Dec 10, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 7
- next ›