Euproserpinus wiesti courtesy of Paul Opler.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Macroglossinae, Harris, 1839 Tribe: Macroglossini, Harris, 1839 Genus: Euproserpinus Grote & Robinson, 1865........... Species: wiesti Speery, 1939

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DISTRIBUTION:

The extremely rare Prairie Sphinx or Wiest's Primrose Sphinx, Euproserpinus wiesti, [wingspan: 1 1/4 - 1 15/16 inches (3.2 - 4.9 cm)], flies in northeast California through central Nevada and most of Utah to northeastern Arizona and northern three-quarters of New Mexico and most of Colorado, and further eastward into extreme western portions of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

The body is black with a white band across the abdomen. The upperside of the forewing is gray-brown; the median area has black lines and a gray band; the underside is white with a black outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is yellowish white with a narrow black outer margin and black at the base; the underside is white with black at the base and a black marginal band.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Euproserpinus wiesti adults fly over sand washes and prairie blow-outs as a single brood from May-June. Adults nectar at flowers during the warm parts of the day.

ECLOSION:

Moths probably wiggle free from pupae in shallow subterranean chambers.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Females deposit eggs singly at the base of host leaves. The eggs hatch in 7-10 days.

Larvae feed on prairie primrose (Oenothera latifolia) in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). Trying to rear in captivity has proven difficult. Larvae seem to need sunshine, heat and humidity. Pupae probably should be stored in a humid environment (damp tissue wrap) if kept in an artificial situation.

Pupation is in shallow subterranean chambers a couple of inches below soil surface.

Euproserpinus wiesti fourth instar, courtesy of James P. Tuttle.

Euproserpinus wiesti fifth instar, courtesy of James P. Tuttle.

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