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 25 - 48 of 303 verified sightings
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
Observation date: May 18, 2012
Submitted by: marycurry
Region: Texas, Wise County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2013
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Jasper County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 22, 2019
Observation date: Sep 12, 2019
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 14, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2019
Submitted by: AnnainOK
Region: Choctaw County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 22, 2011
Submitted by: David Illig
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2019
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
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