Tersa Sphinx Moth

Description:

From website "butterfliesandmoths.org".. Family: Sphingidae Subfamily: Macroglossinae Identification: Forewing upperside is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Hindwing upperside is dark brown with a band of whitish wedge-shaped marks. Wing Span: 2 3/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6 - 8 cm). Life History: Adults begin feeding at sunset. Flight: . One brood in the north from May-October, several broods in Florida and Louisiana from February-November. Caterpillar Hosts: Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters (Pentas species), Borreria, Catalpa, and Manettia species. Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including honeysuckle (Lonicera). 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: None reported.

Habitat:

Habitat: Not reported. (MINE IS IN FLORIDA SANDHILL HABITAT) Range: Massachusetts south to south Florida; west to Nebraska, New Mexico, and southern Arizona; south through Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America to Argentina.

Notes:

I love the subtle coloring. I think it looks like it is carved yof a fine-grained wood. It stayed on the side of my house right by the front door all day. I saw it as I left for work at 7:30AM, and it was in the exact same location at 5PM when I returned home. This may just be my favorite sphinx moth.