
	Description
	Nessus sphinx moth is easily recognized by the two thin, bright yellow bands on the abdomen.

	Size
	Wingspan: 17 ⁄16″ to 23 ⁄16″ Total length: ⅞″ to 1⅛″

	Similar Species



	Habitat



	Biology
	Season
	One brood: April to July

	Behavior
	This is a day-flying moth that also flies at dusk. It is usually seen taking nectar from flowers.

	Life Cycle


	Larva Hosts
	In Minnesota, silverleaf grape and wild grape

	Adult Food
	Flower nectar


	Taxonomy
	Order	Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
	Superfamily	Bombycoidea (hawk, sphinx, emperor, and allied moths)
	Family	Sphingidae (sphinx moths)
	Subfamily	Macroglossinae
	Tribe	Macroglossini
	Subtribe	Macroglossina
	Genus	Amphion (nessus sphinxes)

	Synonyms


	Common Names
	nessus sphinx nessus sphinx moth


	Visitor Photos

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	Tanya Brown




	Bonnie Harper-Lore

	Moth on Spiderwort 2 thin yellow belts not conspicuous...yellow line edging each wing was!




	SaraBug

	First time seeing this kind of sphinx moth! Beautiful!



	Luciearl

	Within minutes of putting up a large hanging basket of blue lobelia I had butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and this Nessus Sphynx. It also returned a few days later. Sorry on the clarity, but i kept moving!



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	Slideshows


	Nessus Sphinx John Sutton




	Nessus Sphinx (Amphion floridensis) Andree Reno Sanborn

slideshow


	Visitor Videos

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	Other Videos


	Nessus Sphinx Moth (Amphion floridensis) David Mroczkowski

	About Published on Jun 23, 2012 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12012175 Adults fly during the day and at dusk. Caterpillars pupate in shallow underground chambers. They feed from several plants including mock orange and phlox, which are in our garden.



	Nessus Sphinx Moth feeds on Phlox divaricata (Wild Sweet William) S. MacDonald

	About Published on Apr 22, 2016 Very similar to a hummingbird moth - or clearwing moth - but does not have clear wings and has obvious yellow bands on the abdomen. Identified moth as the Nessus Sphinx moth (Amphion floridensis) using the site below: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Amphion-floridensis Seen in my backyard native plants bed, in late afternoon.



	Nessus Sphinx Moth malawimom

	About Published on May 25, 2012 I wish it would have been on a flower instead of poop.



	Nessus Sphinx Moth Dave Blinder

	About Published on Jun 5, 2014 Filmed and edited in Morris County, New Jersey Tamron SP 180mm Macro Lens Canon EOS 6D

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Visitor Sightings

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Tanya Brown 6/11/2022	Location: Renville, MN



Bryon Zeone 6/12/2021	Location: Rochester, MN Didn’t get photo but in S.W. Rochester. It was in my wave pentunias.



Bonnie Harper-Lore 6/26/2019	Location: Hennepin County Moth on Spiderwort. 2 thin yellow belts not conspicuous...yellow line edging each wing was!



SaraBug 6/13/2019	Location: Minneapolis First time seeing this kind of sphinx moth! Beautiful!



Luciearl 6/14/2018	Location: Lake Shore, MN Within minutes of putting up a large hanging basket of blue lobelia I had butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and this Nessus Sphynx. It also returned a few days later.



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nessus sphinx