Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members: Eumorpha Members: 136 NC Records

Eumorpha pandorus (Hübner, 1821) - Pandorus Sphinx

Eumorpha pandorusEumorpha pandorusEumorpha pandorusEumorpha pandorus
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea		 Family:
Sphingidae		Subfamily:
Macroglossinae		Tribe:
Macroglossini		P3 Number:
890182		 MONA Number:
7859.00		 Other Common Name:
Pandora Sphinx
Comments: This is largely a Neotropical genus but 12 species are recorded from the U.S. and 5 from North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A moderately large Sphinx moth with a distinctive pattern of pale and dark green patches on its wings and body. Markings are similar to that of Eumorpha intermedia, which is typically shaded with brown or reddish but can also be olive green (see Covell, 1984, and Brou, 2011, for details). Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 8.7 - 11.5 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Late instar larvae are quite distinctive, varying in color but possessing large pale spots encircling the spiracles; humped or swollen anteriorly and possessing a slightly raised eyespot in place of the caudal horn (see Wagner, 2007, for details). Pupae are hidden several inches below the floor of the forest.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs statewide, including the Barrier Islands and High Mountains. Some records may represent migrants -- these robust moths are strong fliers and undoubtedly disperse over great distances.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Eumorpha pandorusAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Flight Comments: Probably two broods.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The host plants used by Eumorpha pandorus occupy a wide range of habitats in North Carolina and we have larval records -- indicating resident populations -- from sites as different and far apart as Fort Macon on the Barrier Islands and New River State Park in the Mountains. We also have a large number of adult records from the Barrier Islands, Longleaf Pine and peatland habitats, all of which are fairly open. Most of our Mountain records come from mesic hardwood forests, including cove forests.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on members of the grape family (Vitaceae), usually wild grapes and Virginia Creeper but will attack domestic grapes as well (Wagner, 2005). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), non-native Porcelain-berry (Ampelopsis glandulosa), and an unknown species of grape. Based on the many larval records on iNaturalist, Virginia Creeper appears to be the primary host in our state. - View
Observation Methods: Known to visit flowers but not found at bait. They are attracted to high intensity lights, including mercury-vapor, but come far less to 15 watt UV lights or incandescent porch lights; many of our records come from offices and other buildings with strong outdoor lighting. Larvae often found on Virginia Creeper.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Its widespread occurrence across the state and use of a broad range of habitats makes this species relatively secure.

 Photo Gallery for Eumorpha pandorus - Pandorus Sphinx

 114 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Lex Valentine on 2025-07-31
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Lex Valentine on 2025-07-31
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Cande Killian Wood on 2025-07-21
Hyde Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: A. Kauppila on 2025-06-18
Burke Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03
Mitchell Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-07-18
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-07
Graham Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-06
Orange Co.
Comment:
Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-07-02
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-07-02
Transylvania Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Tina Fulcher on 2024-06-08
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: tom ward on 2023-09-16
Buncombe Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Jeremiah Edwards on 2023-08-22
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-13
Carteret Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-08-08
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-07-28
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-07-28
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Becky Elkin, Jim Petranka, Tony McBride on 2023-07-23
Buncombe Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Becky Elkin, Jim Petranka, Tony McBride on 2023-07-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Willie Hardin on 2023-06-10
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: R. Newman on 2022-10-03
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Russell James on 2022-09-01
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Russell James on 2022-09-01
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-08-07
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Mark Ranzinger on 2022-08-05
Mecklenburg Co.
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Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-31
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Eumorpha pandorusRecorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-26
Avery Co.
Comment: