Nessus sphinx
Amphion floridensis B.P. Clark, 1920
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Body is stout; abdomen has 2 bright yellow bands and a tuft at the end. Upperside of wings is dark red-brown. Hindwing has a red-orange median band and a yellow spot on the costal margin; in some moths the median band ranges from pale to almost absent.
Wing Span: 1 7/16 - 2 3/16 inches (3.7 - 5.5 cm).
Life History: Adults fly during the day and at dusk. Caterpillars pupate in shallow underground chambers.
Flight: . Several broods in Florida and Louisiana from February-September, two broods in coastal South Carolina from March-May and July-September, and one brood in New York and northward from April-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including lilac (Syringa vulgaris), herbrobert (Geranium robertianum), beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis), mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius), and Phlox.
Habitat: Forests, streamsides, and suburbs.
Range: Nova Scotia and Maine south to south Florida; west to Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas.
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.
Thank you!
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.