Abbott's sphinx
Sphecodina abbottii (Swainson, 1821)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Adults are bumblebee mimics and make a buzzing sound when feeding. Wing margins are scalloped. Forewing upperside is dark brown with light brown bands and markings. Hindwing upperside is yellow with a wide black outer margin.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 3/4 inches (5.1 - 7 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding at dusk. Caterpillars feed at night, and during the day rest hidden on the bark of their host plants. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow underground cells.
Flight: . Two flights from February-August in Louisiana; one flight from May-June in the remainder of the range.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grape (Vitis) and ampelopsis (Ampelopsis).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including honeysuckle (Lonicera), lilac (Syringa vulgaris), and Viburnum.
Habitat: Woodlands.
Range: Northern Florida, Mississippi, and Texas north to Nebraska.
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: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 327 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: Julsbuy1
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2017
Submitted by: kgbrook
Region: Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 30, 2020
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: Shellac
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 26, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2019
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2019
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: May 31, 2019
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 04, 2019
Submitted by: wade wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 13, 2020
Observation date: May 21, 2019
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: ngriffiths
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: Fleetdreams
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 13, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: blueracer
Region: Ashland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: Stuart Marcus
Region: Texas, Liberty County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: PAEagleLvr
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: May 27, 2020
Submitted by: JTSantangelo
Region: Lake County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: Tfawn
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2020
Observation date: May 20, 2020
Submitted by: Rick Welton
Region: Lake County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 20, 2020
Observation date: May 07, 2020
Submitted by: dmccord
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: May 08, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Apr 10, 2020
Observation date: Mar 29, 2020
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 30, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2013
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Lake County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 29, 2019
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: Naomi Austin
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 08, 2019
Observation date: Aug 14, 2019
Submitted by: Dave Russell
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 19, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2019
Submitted by: Badgerjac
Region: Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
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