Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1138593

Virginia creeper sphinx
Darapsa myron

Observation date: August 31, 2017
Submitted by: Exo514
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Found this enormous Virginia Creeper Sphinx caterpillar eating wild Grapevine or Ampelopsis. Around 1.5-2" long and likely in its fourth or fifth instar. When I touched the specimen, it began to thrash around violently for several minutes. Nearby were some defoliated Virginia Creeper vines, possibly from this specimen or another caterpillar.
Status: Resident
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: December 18, 2020
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): United States, Connecticut, Fairfield County