Poecila sphinx
Sphinx poecila Stephens, 1828
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Fringes are checkered black and white on the forewing, and are almost pure white on the hindwing. Forewing is dark gray with diffuse black and gray wavy lines, a series of black dashes ending at the wing tip, and a white cell spot. Hindwing is brownish gray with a wide black border and a black median line.
Wing Span: 2 11/16 - 3 3/4 inches (6.8 - 9.5 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars pupate in burrows in soft soil.
Flight: . One brood from May-September.
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: Newfoundland and Maine south to Pennsylvania; west to Michigan, northeastern Illinois, and Wisconsin.
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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 116 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: Adeline Lemasson
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: Sergii Perepelytsia
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: May 31, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: robpendergast
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: Bob Saunders
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2017
Submitted by: Stylurus
Region: Alger County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2021
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 01, 2021
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: yaycat
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: MarkNenadov
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 25, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: w
Region: Carlton County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Dec 15, 2020
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: dawittrock2231
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: martinkokj
Region: Iron County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2019
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 19, 2019
Observation date: Jul 26, 2019
Submitted by: jollygoodyellow
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: Jul 05, 2018
Submitted by: jollygoodyellow
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: klebo
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 04, 2018
Observation date: Jul 05, 2018
Submitted by: jollygoodyellow
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 07, 2018
Observation date: Jul 02, 2018
Submitted by: kathyjackm
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 04, 2018
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