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
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 296 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: dolphin9z
Region: Johnson County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: May 25, 2019
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 31, 2019
Observation date: May 21, 2019
Submitted by: Daniel Taylor
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 23, 2019
Observation date: Apr 25, 2019
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Boone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Apr 29, 2019
Observation date: Aug 17, 2018
Submitted by: Dave Webb
Region: Harford County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 26, 2018
Observation date: Jul 15, 2015
Submitted by: Howell_Curtis
Region: Harrison County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: May 04, 2018
Observation date: Aug 22, 2017
Submitted by: Ken Bosso
Region: East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Jul 13, 2017
Submitted by: kcearlock
Region: Clinton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2017
Observation date: May 26, 2017
Submitted by: Charflet
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2017
Observation date: Apr 09, 2017
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 19, 2017
Observation date: Oct 01, 2011
Submitted by: ribitzki49
Region: Noble County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 06, 2016
Observation date: Sep 05, 2016
Submitted by: hurst61698
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 24, 2016
Observation date: Apr 07, 2016
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 19, 2016
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 03, 2016
Observation date: Aug 23, 2016
Submitted by: ddodd (Barry Dodd)
Region: Marshall County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: ddodd
Verified date: Aug 23, 2016
Observation date: Jun 25, 2016
Submitted by: Stott Noble
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 01, 2016
Observation date: Aug 08, 2015
Submitted by: sshively
Region: Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 03, 2015
Observation date: Aug 28, 2015
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 03, 2015
Observation date: Aug 29, 2015
Submitted by: Homegardener3816
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2015
Observation date: Aug 08, 2015
Submitted by: sshively
Region: Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 08, 2015
Observation date: Aug 04, 2015
Submitted by: Jim Eckert
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: Jim Eckert
Verified date: Aug 06, 2015
Observation date: Jul 15, 2015
Submitted by: Kelseyhartman
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 16, 2015
Observation date: Jun 23, 2015
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: Jeff Trahan
Verified date: Jun 26, 2015
Observation date: Mar 13, 2015
Submitted by: JeanEvoy
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 13, 2015
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