White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is dark olive brown with paler brown along the costa and outer margin, a narrow tan band running from the wing tip to the base, and white streaks along the veins. Hindwing upperside is black with a reddish pink median band.
Wing Span: 2 7/16 - 3 9/16 inches (6.3 - 9 cm).
Life History: Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, and at dawn, but they will also fly during the day. Caterpillars pupate in shallow burrows in the ground. Massive population buildups occur which stimulate emigrations to colonize more northern areas.
Flight: . Two broods from February-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: A great diversity of plants including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon), purslane (Portulaca), and Fuchsia.
Adult Food: Nectar from a variety of flowers including columbines, larkspurs, petunia, honeysuckle, moonvine, bouncing bet, lilac, clovers, thistles, and Jimson weed.
Habitat: A wide variety of open habitats including deserts, suburbs, and gardens.
Range: Central America north through Mexico and the West Indies to most of the United States and southern Canada. Also occurs in Eurasia and Africa.
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: Occasional outbreaks of caterpillars have damaged tomatoes, grapes, and garden crops in Utah.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 2725 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 20, 2010
Submitted by: hank4044
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 27, 2025
Observation date: Apr 19, 2017
Submitted by: Ninamacferren@y...
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 21, 2025
Observation date: Apr 05, 2016
Submitted by: ninadora
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 19, 2025
Observation date: Mar 15, 2016
Submitted by: sdiaz
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 19, 2025
Observation date: Sep 26, 2025
Submitted by: Mollz211
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 09, 2025
Observation date: Sep 12, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 15, 2025
Observation date: Mar 13, 2025
Submitted by: theskyeworld
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 27, 2025
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Humphreys County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Sep 03, 2025
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 01, 2025
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: ekwari
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2025
Observation date: Mar 03, 2025
Submitted by: CharleeB
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 04, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Tooele County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 03, 2025
Observation date: Oct 03, 2023
Submitted by: jofritz
Region: Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 17, 2025
Observation date: May 01, 2003
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 24, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2003
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 24, 2024
Observation date: Nov 25, 2024
Submitted by: Shupa980
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2024
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Seward County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 12, 2024
Observation date: Sep 05, 2024
Submitted by: BKeener
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Nov 02, 2024
Observation date: Oct 15, 2024
Submitted by: pammymp
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 16, 2024
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