Plebeian sphinx
Paratrea plebeja (Fabricius, 1777)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Forewing is gray with indistinct black and white markings, a series of black dashes from the base to the tip, and a small white cell spot. Hindwing is dark gray with an obscure dark median band.
Wing Span: 2 3/8 - 3 inches (6 - 7.5 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars hide on the underside of stems during the day, and emerge to feed at night. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in chambers in soft soil. Caterpillars of the second brood pupate and overwinter in their chambers.
Flight: One brood in the north from May-July, at least two broods in the south from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Common trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans), Florida yellow-trumpet (Tecoma stans), lilac (Syringa species), and passionflower (Passiflora species).
Adult Food: Deep-throated flowers including honeysuckle, bouncing bet, and verbena.
Habitat: Not reported.
Range: Connecticut south to Florida; west to Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Ranges south to Veracruz, Mexico.
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.
Comments: Genus changed from Paratrea to Paratraea. Apparent misspelling. Fixed 8/2009.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Paratrea plebeja
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 301 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Colonial Heights, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 1983
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Molter
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 30, 2021
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Allen County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 27, 2021
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2021
Observation date: Aug 25, 2021
Submitted by: firewoman
Region: Fayette County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2021
Submitted by: JamieLynn
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2021
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Boone County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2020
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Karen and Gary Campbell)
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2019
Submitted by: Emergenurse
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: Emergenurse
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2018
Submitted by: greenesnake@yah...
Region: Gibson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 30, 2020
Observation date: Aug 05, 2019
Submitted by: wade wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 14, 2020
Observation date: May 15, 2020
Submitted by: vlado47
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2020
Submitted by: vlado47
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2020
Observation date: Aug 06, 2020
Submitted by: vlado47
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: English County ...
Region: Queens County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 14, 2020
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