DISTRIBUTION:

Darapsa myron, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or The Grapevine Sphinx, Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 9/16 inches (4.5 - 6.5 cm), is found in Maine south to south Florida; west to North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas. It also flies in Mexico

The forewing upperside is dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint. This species was quite common in rural New Jersey where the forewing color contained more green than described above, often more vibrant than in the John Campbell image. On the costal margin there is a dark rectangular patch, although this may be reduced or absent. The upperside of the hindwing is pale orange. Image courtesy of John Himmelman, Connecticut, July 12, 2003.

FLIGHT TIMES: Darapsa myron is double-brooded through northern portions of its range, with moths on the wing from March-September. In Florida and other southern states there are multiple broods. The moth is found in woodlands and brushy areas where larval hosts are found. Tim Dyson provides this ventral side image from Peterborough, Ontario, June 13, 2005.

Darapsa myron courtesy of Hynek Habal

ECLOSION: Little is known about the eclosions of the earth pupators, but many believe pupae wiggle toward the surface just prior to emergence. SCENTING AND MATING: Darapsa myron females extend a scent gland from the posterior of the abdomen to lure in the night flying males. Both sexes nectar at flowers. Darapsa myron, Peterborough, Ontario, June 8-9, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Darapsa myron larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum.

Females lay translucent yellow-green eggs in twos or threes on the underside of host leaves. Eggs hatch in five or six days, and the young caterpillars eat their eggshells. The developing larvae usually become visible after three to four days. Images courtesy of Jacalyn Loyd Goetz.

Freshly emerged larvae have a yellowish cast with a disproportionately long anal "horn". As they partake of their first meal of foliage, it is interesting to watch the green food pass through their long intestinal tracts.

Growth is rapid, and these fourth instar larvae have been feeding for only two weeks. When temperatures are warm, day and night, larvae can complete their growth within three weeks. Fully-grown caterpillars descend foliage trunks or stems and spin a loose cocoons in fallen leaves on the ground.

At pupation time, I pick up such Sphingidae larvae with my fingers and gently put them in a bucket, bottom-lined with several layers of loose, dry paper towels. The larvae will crawl under the towelling and pupate on the bottom of the bucket. This method, a warm dark bucket lined with paper towelling, is sufficient to induce pupation in most of the earth pupators. Pupae are wiggly and greatly resembe Darapsa pholus pupae, being a mottled tan with dark brown between abdominal segments.

Darapsa myron larva courtesy of Lance S. Risley, Coweeta Hydrologic Lab.

Darapsa myron larva courtesy of Mary Hallett, Beloit, Wisconsin.

Darapsa myron larva courtesy of Mary Hallett, Beloit, Wisconsin.

Darapsa myron feeding on grape, August 2, 2006, Peterborough, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

Darapsa myron feeding on grape, August 2, 2006, Peterborough, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

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