Wing span: 105mm
Flight time: September - October
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Body is robust. Abdomen tapers to a point and is grayish brown with pink bands. Forewing is mottled gray and brown; hindwing is gray with black bands and pink at the base.
Wing Span: 3 3/4 - 4 3/4 inches (9.5 - 12 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars are large and stout and have a horn at the end of the abdomen. They feed both day and night. Caterpillars pupate in chambers dug in the ground. Adults are very strong fliers.
Flight: . One flight from June-October in most of the range, several flights throughout the year in Florida and Louisiana.
Caterpillar Hosts: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), jimsonweed (Datura), and related plants.
Adult Food: Nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), and petunia (Petunia species).
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands, open areas.
Range: Argentina north through Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to the southeastern United States, Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California; strays northward in the summer to British Columbia, Colorado, Michigan, and Maine.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: The caterpillars can be pests on sweet potatoes in the southern states.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
237587 | 2019-09-21 | 5031 Old Lyddane Bridge Road | Kentucky | 37.746878 -87.18596547 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
195978 | 2017-08-25 | Along Hwy 59-x | Iowa | 42.712235 -95.553816 | Sean Wetrich | 1 |
182861 | 2016-10-10 | 100 Acre Wood-x | Iowa | 0 0 | MJ Hatfield | 1 |
177286 | 2016-10-09 | Ida Grove | Iowa | 42.34499 -95.47167 | Don Poggensee | 1 |
177281 | 2016-09-13 | Johnson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Brown | 1 |
143639 | 2015-09-22 | Johnson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mark Brown | 1 |
14311 | 2013-10-12 | Noelridge Park | Iowa | 42.02694 -91.6575 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
125106 | 2013-09-06 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
138000 | 2013-09-06 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
14310 | 2012-08-04 | 5031 Old Lyddane Bridge Road | Kentucky | 37.746807 -87.185997 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
1622 | 2010-09-28 | Noelridge Park | Iowa | 42.0269475 -91.656706 | BAMONA | 1 |
14309 | 2010-09-28 | Noelridge Park | Iowa | 42.02694 -91.6575 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
14306 | 2008-10-28 | Fire Station No 3, Ames | Iowa | 42.00117 -93.6093 | Jeff Westphal | 1 |
14304 | 2007-10-17 | 5031 Old Lyddane Bridge Road | Kentucky | 37.746807 -87.185997 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
14305 | 2007-10-17 | 5031 Old Lyddane Bridge Road | Kentucky | 37.746807 -87.185997 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
125109 | 2007-10-06 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
137998 | 2007-10-06 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
203896 | 2007-10-06 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.62395 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
14308 | 2007-10-02 | Luther College | Iowa | 43.31333 -91.80306 | Kristin Youngmeyer | 1 |
354534 | 2007-10-02 | Decorah-x | Iowa | 43.30333 -91.78556 | Kristin Youngmeyer | 1 |
14307 | 2004-09-10 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
125108 | 2004-09-10 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
138001 | 2004-09-10 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
203895 | 2004-09-10 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.62395 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
137999 | 1998-09-26 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
203894 | 1998-09-26 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.62395 | Paul Martsching | 1 |
125107 | 1998-09-10 | Ames, Paul | Iowa | 42.02064 -93.623952 | Paul Martsching | 1 |