Our summer fundraiser has arrived, and we need your help!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
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
National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022!
Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live. Learn more.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 298 verified sightings

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

Observation date: Sep 13, 1982
Submitted by: Indy Entomologist
Region: White County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 16, 2015

Observation date: Jul 07, 2014
Submitted by: TeaKH
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 07, 2015

Observation date: Jul 04, 2014
Submitted by: QuePID
Region: Madison County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 22, 2014

Observation date: Jul 01, 2014
Submitted by: Stuart Marcus
Region: Texas, Liberty County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 02, 2014

Observation date: Jun 18, 2014
Submitted by: Pamela D. Fisher
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 25, 2014

Observation date: May 24, 2014
Submitted by: jeffmci9
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 16, 2014

Observation date: May 11, 2014
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hart County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2014

Observation date: Jul 15, 2013
Submitted by: Audrey R Hoff
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Jun 13, 2014

Observation date: Aug 06, 2013
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: Bibb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 17, 2013

Observation date: Aug 28, 2013
Submitted by: Pete Williams
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 29, 2013

Observation date: Jul 09, 2013
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hardin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 24, 2013

Observation date: Jul 04, 2013
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 06, 2013

Observation date: Feb 26, 2013
Submitted by: JeanEvoy
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 03, 2013

Observation date: Aug 24, 2010
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Dec 07, 2012

Observation date: Aug 27, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Childs
Region: Chester County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Nov 29, 2012

Observation date: May 18, 2012
Submitted by: Bachasaur
Region: Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2012

Observation date: Mar 13, 2010
Submitted by: JeanEvoy
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 28, 2012

Observation date: Apr 01, 2011
Submitted by: MaryAnn Friedman
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 03, 2012

Observation date: Sep 07, 2011
Submitted by: Pete Williams
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 08, 2011

Observation date: May 28, 2011
Submitted by: Eddie Huber
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2011

Observation date: Jun 03, 2011
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hardin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 24, 2011

Observation date: May 01, 2010
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Camden County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 25, 2011
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 13
- next ›