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 246 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 24, 2025
Submitted by: Kansasbirder
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Dawes County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 19, 2024
Observation date: Jun 14, 2024
Submitted by: CMH
Region: Lincoln County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: Jpaq1
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Sep 18, 2023
Submitted by: neor
Region: Wallowa County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 25, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: sseagrave
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 30, 2023
Observation date: Jul 03, 2017
Submitted by: From the Sunflo...
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: Kazmia
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 12, 2023
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
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