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

MIDI MUSIC .....It's a Wonderful World..... copyright C. Odenkirk ON.OFF <bgsound src="world.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

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 Colorado south to northern New Mexico, and west to southern Utah and northern Arizona.

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).

Pupation is in shallow subterranean chambers.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Goto Main Sphingidae Index
Goto Macroglossini Tribe
Goto Central American Indices
Goto Carribean Islands
Goto South American Indices
Goto U.S.A. tables