pandorus sphinx

Pandorus sphinx is a very large, dramatically patterned, sphinx moth. It has a wingspan of 3¼″ to 4½″. Females are slightly larger than males.

The adult is heavy-bodied and has relatively small wings. The thorax is pale green. The structures on the thorax covering each wing base (tegulae) are dark. The abdomen is long and tapered. The antennae are thread-like, thickened, and somewhat spindle-shaped at the tip.

The bristle or group of bristles (frenulum) present on most moths that keep the wings together in flight is present but small on this moth.

The forewing is long and narrow, and pointed, with a smooth, slightly convex outer margin. It is pale green with a complex pattern of dark olive-green markings. There is a squarish, dark olive green patch along the inner margin near the base, abutting an even darker patch of similar size and shape in the middle of the inner margin, and a smaller patch on the inner margin near the outer edge. There is also a patch in the median area above the discal cell, and a patch with a pale outline at the tip. Pink streaks over two of the veins extend from the discal area to the subterminal area, and there is a pink streak on the inner margin between the middle and outer dark spots. A pale eyespot in the discal area (discal spot) has two black spots.

The hindwing is whitish near the base, grading to pale green near the outer margin. There is a dark olive-green patch in the median area near the inner margin, a dark patch in the subterminal area, and a pink patch at the anal angle. The second (Sc+R1) and third (Rs) veins behind the leading edge of the hindwing are parallel from the base to the end of the discal cell. They are united by an oblique cross-vein at about the middle of the discal cell. The underside of both wings is usually yellowish-green, sometimes pale brown.

The caterpillar is up to 3½″ long. It may be green, orange, pink, or reddish-brown. The third thoracic segment (T3) is greatly swollen. When the caterpillar is alarmed, the head, T1, and T2 are withdrawn into it. Caterpillars pass through five stages (instars) before pupating. The third through fifth instar caterpillars have conspicuous pale spots surrounding the breathing pores (spiracles) of the third through seventh abdominal segments (A3–A7). The spots are pale yellow to white and have a thin black border. A2 sometimes has a similar but much smaller spot. The thorax and A1–A3 are generously peppered with tiny black dots. These gradually dissipate further down the abdomen. There is a slender, coiled, whip-like horn at the back (posterior) of A8 on all early instar caterpillars. This is replaced by a hardened, slightly raised eyespot on the last instar.

Mature caterpillars can be found from July to November. They are very large and consume copious amounts of foliage. They can completely defoliate young grape vines, ultimately killing them. Older vines can withstand the damage.

Total length: 1¾″ to 2⅜″

Wingspan: 3¼″ to 4½″

Achemon sphinx (Eumorpha achemon) is smaller and less common. Adults are brown, not green. The caterpillars have much more peppering on all abdominal segments. The pale spots over the spiracles are notched, dividing them into three parts, and giving them a coiled appearance.

Forest edges, woodlands, fields, river margins, vineyards, gardens

One generation per year: May to September (Wisconsin)

Adults fly at dusk.

Adults emerge in June. Females attract males by releasing pheromones at night. After mating, the female lays translucent green, almost spherical eggs singly on the underside of host plant leaves. The eggs hatch in 6 to 8 days. The caterpillars feed on the leaves. They pass through five instars. In the fall, fifth instar caterpillars burrow 4″ to 6″ into the soil, pupate, and overwinter. The pupae wiggle to the soil surface just before emergence (eclosion).

In Minnesota, leaves of grape (Vitis spp.) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus spp.). Elsewhere, also peppervine (Ampelopsis spp.).

Nectar of a variety of flowers

Sources

4, 21, 24, 29, 30, 75, 82, 83.

Common and widespread in eastern United States

The name of the subfamily, Macroglossinae, is shared with a subfamily of large bats (megabats). This violates the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICBN), and one of the subfamilies will probably be renamed in the future.

found one of these caterpillars in a roadside ditch near my home in Rochester (Olmsted County). A first for me! I thought I would share it with you. 🙂

Found resting on our kids swing set

Pandorus Sphinx Moth - CTnaturalist Online
CTnaturalist

Cool Bug: "Pandorus Sphinx Moth".. visiting my veggie garden
OrganicGarden123

Pandorus Sphinx Moth caterpillar (Eumorpha pandorus)
CobraHeadTools

Pandora Sphinx Moth (Eumorpha pandorus)
David Podgor

Pandora Sphinx moth showing off her wings.
Sabrina B

Ruth Johnson
8/24/2024

Location: Rochester, MN

I found one of these caterpillars in a roadside ditch near my home in Rochester (Olmsted County). A first for me! I thought I would share it with you. 🙂

Location: Sherburne County

Location: Kilkenny, Minnesota

Found resting on our kids swing set