Apple sphinx
Sphinx gordius Cramer, 1780
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Color and markings are highly variable. Fringes on forewing are mostly black with some white, those on the hindwing are mostly white with a few black patches. Forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. Hindwing is gray to yellow-gray with a black border and a black median line which ranges from distinct to diffuse.
Wing Span: 2 11/16 - 4 1/4 inches (6.8 - 10.8 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars pupate in burrows in soft soil.
Flight: . One brood; from May-September in most of the range, from February-April in Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: Apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including dogbane (Apocynum), honeysuckle (Lonicera), lilac (Syringa), evening primrose (Onagraceae), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), and phlox (Phlox).
Habitat: Coastal barrens, bogs, and deciduous forests.
Range: Relative abundance varies throughout the range. Southeastern New York and New Jersey south to central Florida; west through southern Illinois, Colorado, and Utah; north through the Rocky Mountains to Manitoba.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 103 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken Lebo)
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman (Curt Lehman)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: May 23, 2007
Submitted by: H.D. McGuinness (H.D. McGuinness)
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness (H.D. McGuinness)
Verified date: Jul 08, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1899
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sweet, Mr.)
Region: Pike County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1913
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: St. Louis City County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Schroers)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 10, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jo Ann Poe-McGavin)
Region: Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman (Curt Lehman)
Verified date: Mar 02, 2009
Observation date: Apr 12, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Linda & Buck Cooper)
Region: Okeechobee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1953
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Suzanne Butcher)
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman (Curt Lehman)
Verified date: Nov 19, 2008
Observation date: Jun 26, 1979
Submitted by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Region: Clearwater County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Jul 10, 2008
Observation date: Jul 15, 1997
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Curt Lehman)
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 30, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pender County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Utah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Putnam County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Preston County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Nantucket County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pembina County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Newport County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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