Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members:
Sphinx Members:
8 NC Records

Sphinx franckii Neumoegen, 1893 - Franck's Sphinx


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: SphingidaeSubfamily: SphinginaeTribe: SphinginiP3 Number: 890117.00 MONA Number: 7808.00
Comments: This large genus of some 27 species ranges from England to Japan and down through the Americas. There are approximately 14 resident species in North America and at least 5 in North Carolina. Two very different larval types occur in the genus and it is likely that Sphinx is composed of more than one genus.
Species Status: Barcodes indicate that Sphinx franckii is a single, well-defined species in our area.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Tuttle (2007)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A large gray sphinx moth with yellowish-tan shading, particularly along the inner margin; its size and its coloration distinguish this species from other sphingids in our area. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 10 - 12.8 cm
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are pea-green with two sub-dorsal lines that are green on the upper side and yellowish white on the lower; the usual pale lateral oblique lines are crossed by a pale lateral stripe (see Forbes, 1948, for more details). Pupation occurs underground.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Potentially statewide but our records are too poor to demonstrate its true distribution.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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