Laurel Sphinx
Sphinx kalmiae J.E. Smith, 1797
Laurel Sphinx: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/129
Synonyms
Fawn Sphinx  Hodges #7809 
Tags

Map Snapshot

76 Records

GAALWAFRCLMOHOBABCHACEPGAACVCHSMKEQACNTADOWISOWO

Relationships

Host plants include White Fringetree, Northern Bush Honeysuckle, White Ash, Black Ash, Inkberry, Catberry, Sheep Laurel, Mountain Laurel, Beach Plum, Common Lilac (Database of World's Lepidopteran Host Plants). It should be noted that the Laurel Sphinx Moth mostly utilizes plants in the Oleaceae (ash, privet, fringetree) as hosts. There is some dispute on whether the Laurel Sphinx Moth uses plants in the heath family as host plants.

Seasonality Snapshot

Resources

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Source: Wikipedia

Laurel sphinx
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Sphinx
Species:
S. kalmiae
Binomial name
Sphinx kalmiae

Sphinx kalmiae, the laurel sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Distribution

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It is found in the temperate parts of the United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains, in the north it occurs west of the Rocky Mountains.

Description

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The wingspan is 75–103 mm.

  • Male dorsal
    Male dorsal
  • Male ventral
    Male ventral
  • Female dorsal
    Female dorsal
  • Female ventral
    Female ventral

Biology

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In Canada, there is one generation per year with adults on wing in June and July. More to the south, there are two generations per year with adults on wing from late May to June and again from July to August. There may be as many as six generations in Louisiana.

The larvae feed on Chionanthus, Kalmia, Syringa and Fraxinus species.

Taxonomy

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English entomologist James Edward Smith named this moth after Kalmia, the plant on which its caterpillar was first observed. [2]

References

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  1. ^ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  2. ^ J.E. Smith & John Abbot. The natural history of the rarer lepidopterous insects of Georgia ... 797. page 73. [1]
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