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
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 310 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 07, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: New Madrid County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 29, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Randolph County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 20, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Callaway County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 30, 1939
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Hamlet)
Region: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 11, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Bollinger County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (O'Connor, George)
Region: Clay County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 22, 1970
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J.R. ?)
Region: Johnson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: May 21, 1970
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Benton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 09, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Ripley County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 24, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Smart, Glen)
Region: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Shannon County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Grote, Linda)
Region: Pike County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 14, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jasper County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robinson, Michael)
Region: Christian County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wethington, Tara)
Region: Stoddard County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Morgan County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 30, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Cedar County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 10, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Wayne County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brower, A.E.)
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Wright County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Shopper, Frances)
Region: Vernon County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 10, 1991
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Winkler, George)
Region: Ste Genevieve County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Winkler, George)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: May 04, 1969
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Platte County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 15, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Dallas County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
- ‹ previous
- 5 of 13
- next ›