Ello sphinx
Erinnyis ello (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. Upperside of female forewing is pale gray with a few dark dots near the outer margin. Upperside of male forewing is dark gray and brown with a black band running from the base to the tip. In both sexes, the hindwing upperside is orange with a wide black border.
Wing Span: 2 15/16 - 3 5/16 inches (7.5 - 8.5 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding at dark. Fully-grown caterpillars spin cocoons on the soil surface.
Flight: . Several flights throughout the year in Florida and South Texas. Strays north July-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Papaya (Carica papaya) in the Caricaceae family; various plants in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) including poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima); guava (Psidium species) in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae); also saffron plum (Bumelia angustifolia) in the Sapotaceae.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis).
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands and foothills.
Range: Resident in Argentina north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to south Florida, Texas, Arizona, southern California, and southern Nevada. Strays northward.
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: Ello sphinx caterpillars can be pests of poinsettias.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 171 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 08, 2025
Submitted by: LukaCustoms
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 08, 2025
Observation date: Jan 08, 2025
Submitted by: bali
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 08, 2025
Observation date: Apr 09, 2024
Submitted by: Pinknick304
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 09, 2024
Observation date: Feb 07, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 08, 2024
Observation date: Feb 04, 2024
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2015
Submitted by: Tim Norriss
Region: Camaguey, Cuba
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 23, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2015
Submitted by: Tim Norriss
Region: Holguin, Cuba
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 23, 2023
Observation date: Apr 01, 2022
Submitted by: Mariadelaguardia
Region: Panama
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 18, 2021
Submitted by: bugboogie
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Oct 27, 2016
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2014
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Mar 24, 2020
Submitted by: JBSherwood
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 12, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2016
Submitted by: ujani
Region: Distrito Federal, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 12, 2022
Observation date: Mar 28, 2022
Submitted by: ZoeAlexa
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 30, 2022
Observation date: Sep 11, 2017
Submitted by: Clw40
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Sep 20, 2017
Submitted by: photoshack
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Sep 11, 2017
Submitted by: Clw40
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Nov 02, 2015
Submitted by: lindaloi
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 10, 2015
Submitted by: Kholshoe
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Sep 19, 2016
Submitted by: Idablankenship
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 22, 2015
Submitted by: Lathie
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: Amberlina
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 20, 2022
Observation date: May 20, 1994
Submitted by: Allen B
Region:
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 20, 2022
Observation date: Dec 24, 2013
Submitted by: CGerstle
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 02, 2022
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