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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 400 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 28, 2025
Submitted by: scottj4hops
Region: Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 16, 2024
Submitted by: LoriCrossnoe
Region: Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 19, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: Rayd113
Region: Passaic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 27, 2024
Submitted by: chalicerae
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jun 27, 2024
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2024
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 02, 2024
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 03, 2024
Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 18, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2023
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 24, 2023
Observation date: May 09, 2023
Submitted by: taylorcreek
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 10, 2023
Observation date: Apr 10, 2023
Submitted by: Anhb2023
Region: Creek County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: bruceb
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Nov 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: Raymund13
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Nov 30, 2022
Observation date: May 12, 2020
Submitted by: kelligirl
Region: Clay County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2019
Submitted by: michelle90
Region: Webster County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Peg Serani
Region: Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 01, 2022
Submitted by: taylorcreek
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: lassa8
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 30, 2022
Observation date: Jun 05, 2022
Submitted by: Feelingbuggy
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: robpendergast
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 03, 2022
Observation date: May 29, 2022
Submitted by: grayhairstreak
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 14, 2022
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Newton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 16, 2022
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