Species Proserpinus gaurae - Proud Sphinx - Hodges#7874

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Strange caterpillar found on milkweed, has been hard for me to identify! - Proserpinus gaurae

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 Proserpinus

Species gaurae (Proud Sphinx - Hodges#7874)

Hodges Number

7874

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Proserpinus gaurae (Smith, 1797)

Size

Forewing lenth: 18-22 mm (1)

Identification

Adults of Proserpinus gaurae similar to Proserpinus juanita, though guarae is more reddish than the more green juanita. Also, the hindwing of guarae has subtle to no dark shading on the submarginal edge, while in juanita the same area is consistently dark and well-defined. (1)

Range

very scattered sc US records - Map (MPG)

Wide range, though rarely reported. Predominantly southeastern US with records from central/east Texas eastwards through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Northwards, guarae has been reported in the eastern half of Oklahoma, eastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri. (1)

Habitat

Edges of forests, disturbed areas, essentially anywhere within range harboring species of the evening primrose family (Onagraceae) (see larval host preferences below). (1)

Season

April-August (1)

Food

Larvae feed on plants in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae), with reports of larvae feeding on the following genera: Oenothera, Gaura, and Epilobium.(1)

Remarks

Rarely reported, though widespread

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Sphingidae of the Americas

Works Cited

1.	The Hawk Moths of North America, A Natural History Study of the Sphingidae of the United States and Canada. James P Tuttle. 2007. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation Inc.

Contributed by Ryan St Laurent on 28 May, 2013 - 6:08pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Last updated 19 February, 2019 - 5:07pm

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