White-lined Sphinx © Lance Beeny

Moths

Description Wingspan 2 1/2-3 1/2" (65-90 mm). Fore wings brown with a buff-colored band from near base to tip; veins outlined in white. Hind wing mostly pink, dark brown to black near body and along outer margin. Head prominent, brown between eyes above. Thorax brown with 6 white stripes. Abdomen brown with paired dark spots on each segment, separated by 3 pale dorsal lines broken lengthwise. Caterpillar is bright green with yellow head, 2 lengthwise side rows of pale spots bordered by black lines, 3 yellow lines, and orange or yellow rear horn.

Life Cycle Caterpillar feeds on foliage of portulaca or that of common weeds, such as chickweed, purslane, evening primrose; forage plants, especially buckwheat; apple, pear, plum, and grape; and truck crops, such as turnip tops, tomato leaves, and melon foliage.

Flight Midsummer.

Habitat Meadows and gardens, especially where portulaca grows.

Range Southern Canada to Latin America, from Atlantic to Pacific coasts.

Discussion These moths whir like hummingbirds as they visit garden flowers at dusk or in darkness. Often they fly in numbers to artificial lights. Sometimes they seek nectar in daylight. There are 2 or more generations a year, one overwintering as pupae underground. The Galium Sphinx (H. gallii), wingspan not more than 3" (75 mm), is similar except it lacks the white stripes on thorax and its veins are not outlined in white. Its caterpillars feed on bedstraw, spurge, fifeweed, and other plants from Labrador to British Columbia, south in the East from New England to Georgia, and in the West to Mexico. These moths were formerly included in the genus Celerio.