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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Macroglossinae » Macroglossini » Amphion » Nessus Sphinx - Hodges#7873 (Amphion floridensis)

Species Amphion floridensis - Nessus Sphinx - Hodges#7873

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Nessus Sphinx--1st instar larva - Amphion floridensis Nessus Sphinx caterpillar - Amphion floridensis nessus sphinx moth - Amphion floridensis Big brown moth with yellow stripes on the lower part of its body??? - Amphion floridensis Jet Moth? - Amphion floridensis Nessus Sphinx - Amphion floridensis Nessus Sphinx - Amphion floridensis St. Andrews moth Amphion floridensis Nessus sphinx on Rhododendron by Ivo Sperone 2021 1 - Amphion floridensis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)
Family Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
Subfamily Macroglossinae
Tribe Macroglossini
Genus Amphion
Species floridensis (Nessus Sphinx - Hodges#7873)
Hodges Number
7873
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Amphion floridensis Clark, 1920
First described in 1777 by Pieter Cramer as Sphinx nessus. This name was invalid, because Dru Drury had already used it for another species in 1773. Both Cramer's and Drury's "Sphinx nessus" were moved to different genera, but that makes no difference as far as the rules are concerned.
The only valid name available as a replacement is floridensis, which B.P. Clark had used in 1920 to describe a proposed subspecies.
Amphion nessus
Amphion nesus
Amphion floridensis
Size
Wingspan 37-55 mm.(1)
Range
e. NA, west to Alberta - Map (MPG),(1)
Season
Adults fly April-July in the north, 2 broods in the south (1)
Food
Larvae feed on Ampelopsis, grape, and cayenne pepper. Adults nectar at flowers during the day and at dusk:
(1)
Life Cycle
Egg, larvae, pupa, and adult:

Caterpillars pupate in shallow underground chambers.
Remarks
Covell notes that this was formerly known as A. nessus and calls it A. floridensis (1), but the more recent Arnett still reflects A. nessus (2).
Print References
Covell (1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - MPG (3)
pinned adult image and distribution in Canada (CBIF)
De uitlandische Kapellen, v.2, p.16 - Pieter Kramer's original description of the species (in Dutch and French). 2 pages before, on Plate CVII/107, fig.D, is an illustration of the adult moth.
Proceedings of the New England Zoölogical Club,v.7, p.73 - Clark's description, which is the first use of the name floridensis for this species.
Sphingidae.US - Amphion floridensis
Works Cited
1.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005.
2.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
3.North American Moth Photographers Group
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 3 April, 2004 - 10:33pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, anitagould, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Maury Heiman, marcie oconnor, teakh
Last updated 12 October, 2019 - 7:00pm

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