Species Eumorpha fasciatus - Banded Sphinx - Hodges#7865

7865

Lesser Vine Sphinx Moth

Eumorpha fasciatus (Sulzer)

Orig. Comb: Sphinx fasciatus Sulzer 1776

fasciatus (L). "banded"

Wingspan 8.7-9.6 cm

Adult:Strong white bands on wings. Brown band on costa (leading edge of forewing) distinguishes from the similar, less widespread, Vine Sphinx, E. vitis.

Larva:Caterpillars highly variable. Black spiracles edged with white, and diagonal white stripes pointing towards the head (much less common than the reverse, in sphingids) seem to be common features. One caterpillar form is mostly green. Another form has a base color of green or yellow, pinkish-red and black cross-stripes, red feet and longitutudinal sub-spiracular green or yellow stripes edged with red.

e US w/ strays further north - Map (MPG)

Old fields, nearby woodlands with hostplant

May-July, August-November (2 broods) in southern US. Only latter brood farther north.

Larvae feed on Evening Primrose, Oenothera species, Water Primrose, Ludwigia species, and other related plants (Onagraceae).

Adults are crepuscular to nocturnal and feed on nectar. a

Moths lay large, spherical, smooth eggs on the lower surface of foodplant leaves. The hatched larvae (caterpillars) feed on leaves, preferring the middle of the blade. Caterpillars usually go through five instars of wide varying colors and patterns, where fifth instar is a characteristic 1st form (green) or 2nd form (colorful). Mature larvae leave host foodplant to bury themselves in an underground cavity in fall. Caterpillars pupate during winter, then crawl out of their burrows in Spring (Appear May-August) as Moths. a

Covell, page 41, plate 3 #12 (1)

Wagner, page 276 (2)

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Moths of North America - BAMONA

Abgekürtze Geschichte der Insecten nach dem Linaeischen System, p.151 - Sulzer's original description of the species (in German, +Fraktur letters)