Species Enyo lugubris - Mournful Sphinx - Hodges#7851

7851

First described in 1771 by Linnaeus as Sphinx lugubris

From Latin root lugubr sad, gloomy (1). "Mournful Sphinx" is from the Latin name, and both presumably refer to the somber colors (or drooping posture?) of this moth.

Wingspan 5-6 cm

Odd-shaped sphinx with almost straight median line, prominent round reniform spot. Coloration brown to greenish-brown. There is a distinctive bend in the median line just above the reniform spot, which differentiates it from E. ocypete. Trailing edge of forewing somewhat scalloped. Compare Half-blind Sphinx (Perigonia lusca) and Enyo ocypete.

Southern North America into neotropics

Forests, edges, presumably.

All year in tropics, August-November northward.

Adults take nectar?

Larvae feed on grape family plants, Vitus, Ampelopsis, and Cissus species (Moths of North America). Pupation occurs in a shallow burrow in the soil. Adults fly during the day, and apparently at night, because they are attracted to lights.

Flies in cold weather (pers. obs. P Coin). Seems to be found in the coastal plain, and in particular, the outer coastal plain and barrier islands.

The very similar Enyo ocypete also occurs in Florida

Moth Photographers Group - photographs of larva, living and pinned adults

Species account at Moths of North America

North Carolina State University Entomology Collection has 21 pinned, including specimens from that state. (No specimens of E. ocypete in that collection.)

Account at Lepidoptera of French Antilles--very thorough, compares with the similar Enyo ocypete, and Perigonia lusca.

Mantissa plantarum altera, p.538    Linnaeus' original description of the species