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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 825 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 18, 2025
Submitted by: scottj4hops
Region: Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 25, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: Gmurray103
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 09, 2024
Submitted by: Eliboo22
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Sep 02, 2024
Submitted by: cncman
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 03, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2017
Submitted by: Beth Polvino
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 27, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2024
Observation date: Jun 14, 2024
Submitted by: Bretito
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: Emmalink1
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: madisontishler
Region: Door County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 01, 2024
Submitted by: Mistyrain
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: amylesniak23
Region: Hudson County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 29, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: joyceannleppard...
Region: Barry County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 25, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: Stephdflannigan
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 24, 2024
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 19, 2024
Observation date: May 18, 2024
Submitted by: leejgough
Region: Ulster County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 19, 2024
Observation date: Apr 30, 2024
Submitted by: SusanPotomac
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 30, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 14, 2024
Observation date: Mar 24, 2024
Submitted by: Lora Keiser
Region: Jackson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 07, 2024
Observation date: Mar 30, 2024
Submitted by: S.Reeves
Region: Orange County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 13, 2024
Submitted by: Native_Gypsy
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 21, 2024
Observation date: Aug 05, 2018
Submitted by: mcalvin983
Region: Christian County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: James Lofton
Region: Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: May 20, 2023
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2023
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