Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810
Sphinx gordius
This record describes Sphinx gordius (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Color and markings are highly variable. Fringes on forewing are mostly black with some white, those on the hindwing are mostly white with a few black patches. |
| Forewing | Forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is gray to yellow-gray with a black border and a black median line which ranges from distinct to diffuse. (From BMNA site) According to The Hawk Moths of North America by James Tuttle, this species can be separated from the similar Northern Apple Sphinx ( Sphinx poecila ) by the dark shading in the submarginal area of the forewing. In S. poecila , the submarginal area is concolorous with the rest of the forewing. Current (ongoing) work shows that the barcode is the only way to separate this species from Sphinx poecila. Range, fringe, and submarginal area do not work. Extreme caution should be taken in ID. Western individuals from ID, CO, UT are Sphinx oslari. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sphinginae
- Tribe
- Sphingini
- Genus
- Sphinx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Coastal barrens, bogs, and deciduous forests.
Geographic Range
Alberta east to New England and South to Florida
Seasonal Activity
May-September in most of the range. From February-April in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva feed on: Apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus). (From the BMNA site)
Life History
Larva pupate in soft soil.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cramer, 1780.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sphinx gordius. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by dennepj10 , Blocky , teakh
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810
What is Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810?
Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810 (Sphinx gordius) is a species in the family Sphingidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810?
WS 65-95mm
How do you identify Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Color and markings are highly variable. Fringes on forewing are mostly black with some white, those on the hindwing are mostly white with a few black patches. |
| Forewing | Forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is gray to yellow-gray with a black border and a black median line which ranges from distinct to diffuse. (From BMNA site) According to The Hawk Moths of North America by James Tuttle, this species can be separated from the similar Northern Apple Sphinx ( Sphinx poecila ) by the dark shading in the submarginal area of the forewing. In S. poecila , the submarginal area is concolorous with the rest of the forewing. Current (ongoing) work shows that the barcode is the only way to separate this species from Sphinx poecila. Range, fringe, and submarginal area do not work. Extreme caution should be taken in ID. Western individuals from ID, CO, UT are Sphinx oslari. |
Where is Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coastal barrens, bogs, and deciduous forests. |
| Range | Alberta east to New England and South to Florida |
What does Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810 eat?
The diet of the Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810 includes Larva feed on: Apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus). (From the BMNA site).
When is Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810 active?
Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810: seasonal activity - May-September in most of the range. From February-April in Florida..
What is the life cycle of a Apple Sphinx - Hodges#7810?
Larva pupate in soft soil.