SPHINX EREMITOIDES
Sage Sphinx Moth

Sphinx eremitoides 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: Sphinginae, Latreille, 1802
Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802
Genus: Sphinx Linnaeus, 1758 ...........
Species: eremitoides Cramer, [1780]

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DISTRIBUTION:

The rare Sage Sphinx Moth, Sphinx eremitoides (Wing span: 3 - 3 9/16 inches (7.6 - 9 cm)), flies across sandy prairies in the Great Plains from Kansas south to Texas, west to Colorado and New Mexico.

Kansas is the specimen type locality.

The upperside of the forewing is pale gray with a yellowish tint, wavy black lines and dashes, and inconspicuous white spots. The upperside of the hindwing is pale gray with a white band between two black bands, and a diffuse black patch at the base.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Sphinx eremitoides adults fly as two broods, from April-May and from August-September.

ECLOSION:

Pupae probably wiggle to surface from subterranean chambers just prior to eclosion.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen. Adults nectar at deep-throated flowers.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larval hosts are Sage (Salvia species).

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