Tersa Sphinx
Xylophanes tersa (Linnaeus, 1771)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Forewing upperside is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Hindwing upperside is dark brown with a band of whitish wedge-shaped marks.
Wing Span: 2 3/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6 - 8 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding at sunset.
Flight: . One brood in the north from May-October, several broods in Florida and Louisiana from February-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters (Pentas species), Borreria, Catalpa, and Manettia species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including honeysuckle (Lonicera).
Habitat: Not reported.
Range: Massachusetts south to south Florida; west to Nebraska, New Mexico, and southern Arizona; south through Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America to Argentina.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 943 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 19, 2025
Submitted by: dallison
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 05, 2025
Observation date: Oct 16, 2025
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 16, 2025
Observation date: Oct 07, 2025
Submitted by: Keysgirl
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 08, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: Falcon5177
Region: Douglas County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Sep 30, 2024
Submitted by: poli1399
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 27, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2025
Submitted by: Laurie31123
Region: Williamson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2025
Submitted by: dpecan
Region: Erath County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: PBWA
Region: Winston County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: Kaylynn.Sherry
Region: Hanover County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: Melinda Bell
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Mar 12, 2025
Submitted by: BoyEddieGood
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 31, 2025
Observation date: Sep 16, 2014
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 27, 2025
Observation date: Sep 03, 2023
Submitted by: BethanyJ
Region: Madison County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 18, 2025
Observation date: Mar 08, 2025
Submitted by: TT
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 08, 2025
Observation date: Feb 05, 2025
Submitted by: SenseiWu
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 06, 2025
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: Loraleilynne
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 24, 2025
Observation date: Nov 26, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 26, 2024
Observation date: Nov 08, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 08, 2024
Observation date: Sep 09, 2018
Submitted by: tjabour
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Sep 22, 2024
Submitted by: suelatour
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 24, 2024
Submitted by: Holder1234
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 24, 2024
Observation date: Sep 13, 2024
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: Lprox112
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
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