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 308 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jul 23, 2019
Submitted by: Erinfergy
Region: Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jul 25, 2019
Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: Nevd
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 21, 2019
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: ewewho
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: Kaefer
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 17, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: pat funk
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: Jethro Bartelings
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: Jethro Bartelings
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: Pauline Viallet
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2019
Submitted by: Janeen Young
Region: Hancock County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Jessica Shortt
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 01, 2019
Submitted by: jannabeen
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 02, 2019
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: DMalin
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 30, 2019
Observation date: Jun 21, 2019
Submitted by: mWish
Region: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 22, 2019
Observation date: May 30, 2019
Submitted by: Lmfttaylor
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 02, 2019
Observation date: May 21, 2019
Submitted by: John S.
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 24, 2019
Observation date: May 24, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Wheeler
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 28, 2019
Observation date: Mar 10, 2019
Submitted by: Rose A. Payne
Region: Bibb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 01, 2018
Submitted by: Sinnful
Region: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 19, 2018
Submitted by: annejasperson
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 28, 2018
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