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Great ash sphinx
Sphinx chersis (Hübner, 1823)
Attributes of Sphinx chersisFamily: Sphinx Moths, Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) Subfamily: Sphinginae (Sphinginae) Identification: Forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. Hindwing is black with blurry pale gray bands. Life history: Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in burrows in the soil. Caterpillars from the second generation pupate and overwinter in their burrows. Flight: . Two broods in the south from May-June and from July-August. Wing span: 3 9/16 - 5 1/8 inches (9 - 13 cm). Caterpillar hosts: A variety of plants including lilac (Syringa vulgaris), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), ash (Fraxinus), and privet (Ligustrum). Adult food: Deep-throated flowers such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), dogbane (Apocynum), and evening primrose (Onagraceae). Habitat: A wide variety of woodlands and arid western scrublands. Range: Mexico north through most of the United States, but rare in the Gulf States. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Sphinx chersis
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