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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 224 verified sightings

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

Observation date: Jun 04, 2018
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 17, 2018

Observation date: Jun 13, 2018
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 17, 2018

Observation date: Jun 06, 2018
Submitted by: Quivira NWR
Region: Stafford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 07, 2018

Observation date: May 04, 2018
Submitted by: LauraMurdoch
Region: Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 04, 2018

Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 19, 2017

Observation date: Jun 22, 2017
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 22, 2017

Observation date: Jun 11, 2015
Submitted by: iangardner
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 30, 2016

Observation date: Jul 06, 2016
Submitted by: balabaster
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2016

Observation date: May 02, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 15, 2016

Observation date: May 13, 2015
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 03, 2015

Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: TeaKH
Region: Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: TeaKH
Verified date: Jul 21, 2015

Observation date: Jul 04, 2015
Submitted by: Paul Levinson
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2015

Observation date: Jun 11, 2015
Submitted by: davmcnaugh
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 13, 2015
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