Elegant sphinx
Sphinx perelegans Hy. Edwards, 1874
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Forewing is dark gray with a pale gray line along the outer margin and a diffuse pale gray patch from the base to the center of the wing. Hindwing is black with white bands.
Wing Span: 3 9/16 - 4 5/16 inches (9 - 11 cm).
Life History: Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in chambers in the soil.
Flight: . Two broods from April-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Snowberries (Symphoricarpos), apple and plum (Prunus), manzanita (Arctostaphylos), and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including evening primrose and rhododendron.
Habitat: Oak woodlands and mountains.
Range: British Columbia south to southern California and Baja California Sur, east to Colorado and New Mexico.
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: Caterpillars are sometimes pests of plum and apple trees.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 114 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2018
Submitted by: klebo
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Nov 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2018
Submitted by: asabspade
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Nov 15, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2016
Submitted by: Angiesouza
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Aug 10, 2016
Submitted by: Catzman
Region: Butte County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 12, 2021
Submitted by: WesternLarch
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2013
Submitted by: albicaulis
Region: Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2016
Submitted by: TBuzzard
Region: Douglas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: Kaylamace62
Region: Josephine County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2020
Submitted by: Anne Lindsay
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Nov 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2019
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 09, 2019
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: Kristi DuBois
Region: Mineral County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 19, 2019
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 23, 2019
Observation date: Jun 05, 2019
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 07, 2019
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: Carsonbay
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 04, 2018
Observation date: Aug 05, 2017
Submitted by: Sem
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 15, 2017
Observation date: Jun 18, 2017
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 20, 2017
Observation date: Apr 04, 2016
Submitted by: Inex
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Apr 13, 2016
Observation date: Apr 07, 2016
Submitted by: Charis W
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Apr 13, 2016
Observation date: Aug 10, 2015
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Aug 31, 2015
Observation date: Aug 16, 2014
Submitted by: palbertleis
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Aug 18, 2014
Observation date: Aug 03, 2014
Submitted by: finatic
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Aug 14, 2014
Observation date: Jul 22, 2014
Submitted by: Mike 701
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jul 25, 2014
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