Other Common Names
Sphinx du pin - En français… Ilze V-G.
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Lapara bombycoides Walker, 1856
* phylogenetic sequence #227450
Identification
Adult: forewing gray with heavy black curved AM and zigzag PM lines bordered proximally by pale shading, and distally by dark shading; two or three black dashes in median area, and usually some brownish shading along inner margin near base; hindwing unmarked, brownish-gray, paler toward base
Larva: body green with 6 prominent pale yellow stripes, those below spiracles broader, whiter, and occasionally interrupted; dorsum, spiracular areas, and prolegs may be marked with reddish patches; head triangular, front often rusty-colored, and with yellow line running from antenna to crown; horn absent
[adapted from description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]
Range
Alberta to Nova Scotia, south to Georgia, west to Minnesota (rare in southeastern states;
US distribution map shows confirmed records from Florida but the species is not on the
List of Florida Lepidoptera)
Habitat
coniferous and mixed forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly in June and July
larvae in August and September
Food
larvae feed on foliage of Red Pine (Pinus resinosa), Pitch Pine (P. rigida), Scots Pine (P. sylvestris), and Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa in the soil
See Also
The more southerly
Pine Sphinx (
L. coniferarum) has thinner and less conspicuous lines on the forewing, often has more noticeable brownish shading along inner margin near base, and does not occur in Canada
Larvae are visually inseparable from larvae of the Pine Sphinx, according to
C.T. Maier et al.
Print References
Hodges, R. W., 1971. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 21. p. 75; pl. 6.3-4, 6.
(2)
Borror, entries for
bomby,
oide (1)Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
live images of adults and larva plus description, distribution, biology, etc. (Bill Oehlke, silkmoths.bizland.com)
US distribution map plus description, flight season, larval foodplants, habitat (butterfliesandmoths.org)
live larva image plus description, foodplants, seasonality, life cycle (David Wagner and Valerie Giles, Caterpillars of Eastern Forests)
live larva image plus description, foodplants, biology, seasonality (C.T Maier
et al, USDA Forest Service, forestpests.org)
pinned adult image (John Glaser, Maryland)
distribution in Canada list of provinces (CBIF)
