Wild cherry sphinx
Sphinx drupiferarum J.E. Smith, 1797
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is dark gray with a white band along the costa and one along the outer margin. Hindwing is dark gray with 2 whitish bands.
Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 4 5/16 inches (8.2 - 11 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars hide during the day and feed at night. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in underground burrows.
Flight: . One brood from May-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wild cherry and plum (Prunus species) lilac (Syringa vulgaris), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), and apple (Malus sylvestris).
Adult Food: Nectar from deep-throated flowers including Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).
Habitat: A wide variety of wooded habitats and suburbs.
Range: Uncommon in its range. Nova Scotia south to Georgia; west through most of the United States and southern Canada to British Columbia and central California.
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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 237 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 17, 2016
Submitted by: NorthPotter
Region: Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: ngpBAM14
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: ngpBAM14
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: Smoke
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: SilverSlug
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: Ann Bull
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2020
Submitted by: KellyBee
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2020
Submitted by: Becky Rugolo
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2018
Submitted by: HikingHobble
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2015
Submitted by: MQBlade
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: Kelsiekuyath
Region: Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2013
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
Observation date: Oct 09, 2020
Submitted by: Wyss
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: Hroesselet
Region: Washington County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2019
Submitted by: Clevelandj18
Region: Lake County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: Wing-Anna-Prayer
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 15, 2020
Observation date: May 26, 2020
Submitted by: Juliebutterfly
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: achmura
Region: Meade County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 14, 2019
Submitted by: tightlines4you
Region: Ferry County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2019
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: edm898mde
Region: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2019
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: Chinook_6
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 06, 2019
Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: Barbara Tennant
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 25, 2019
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: themod444
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 12, 2018
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