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Species Detail
Poecila sphinx
Sphinx poecila Stephens, 1828
Attributes of Sphinx poecilaFamily: Sphinx Moths, Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) Subfamily: Sphinginae (Sphinginae) Identification: Fringes are checkered black and white on the forewing, and are almost pure white on the hindwing. Forewing is dark gray with diffuse black and gray wavy lines, a series of black dashes ending at the wing tip, and a white cell spot. Hindwing is brownish gray with a wide black border and a black median line. Life history: Caterpillars pupate in burrows in soft soil. Flight: . One brood from May-September. Wing span: 2 11/16 - 3 3/4 inches (6.8 - 9.5 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus). Adult food: Nectar from flowers including dogbane (Apocynum), honeysuckle (Lonicera), lilac (Syringa), evening primrose (Onagraceae), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), and phlox (Phlox). Habitat: Coastal barrens, bogs, and deciduous forests. Range: Newfoundland and Maine south to Pennsylvania; west to Michigan, northeastern Illinois, and Wisconsin. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Sphinx poecila
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