Great ash sphinx
Sphinx chersis (Hübner, 1823)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. Hindwing is black with blurry pale gray bands.
Wing Span: 3 9/16 - 5 1/8 inches (9 - 13 cm).
Life History: Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in burrows in the soil. Caterpillars from the second generation pupate and overwinter in their burrows.
Flight: . Two broods in the south from May-June and from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of plants including lilac (Syringa vulgaris), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), ash (Fraxinus), and privet (Ligustrum).
Adult Food: Deep-throated flowers such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), dogbane (Apocynum), and evening primrose (Onagraceae).
Habitat: A wide variety of woodlands and arid western scrublands.
Range: Mexico north through most of the United States, but rare in the Gulf States.
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 476 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 27, 2024
Submitted by: starmans
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 07, 2025
Observation date: Jun 27, 2024
Submitted by: Jenamac85
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 30, 2024
Observation date: Sep 11, 2024
Submitted by: Nordim57
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 30, 2024
Observation date: Aug 28, 2024
Submitted by: GiovanniPari
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: ShaneMc67
Region: York County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Sep 02, 2013
Submitted by: Dani Pereda
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jan 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 17, 2023
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: PopiRob
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 13, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: clbelben
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2017
Submitted by: RvbDread
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Jul 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: Gonzo
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Jul 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: mothman420
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: May 29, 2023
Submitted by: Okjini
Region: Lincoln County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 31, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: Canuckgirl
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jan 17, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: TommyGuy_75
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Nov 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: kellyhorse
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 30, 2022
Submitted by: cahikerchick
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: crystalcat2575
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 29, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2017
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: luvsleemans
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2022
Submitted by: PSheppard
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
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