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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 166 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 01, 1913
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: St. Louis City County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Schroers)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 23, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Long, Bruce)
Region: Callaway County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R. 1987)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Brower, A.E.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Oct 10, 1897
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Audrain County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Rowley, R.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Oct 22, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jasper County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 19, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bramman, Debra)
Region: Randolph County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R. 1972)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 02, 1935
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Meiners, E.P.)
Region: Jefferson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mitch Marcotte)
Region: Nobles County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Oct 02, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce M. Griffin)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 10, 1993
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 07, 2005
Submitted by: kellyrichers (Kelly M. Richers)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 29, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Oct 25, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brennan Mulrooney)
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Sep 29, 2008
Observation date: Sep 02, 2007
Submitted by: lorispencer (Lori Spencer)
Region: Logan County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: lorispencer (Lori Spencer)
Verified date: Sep 11, 2007
Observation date: Sep 06, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tom Dimock)
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Tom Dimock)
Verified date: May 24, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Callaway County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Warren County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cass County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Peoria County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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