Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Sphingidae Members:	Eumorpha Members:	3 NC Records

Eumorpha intermedia (B.P. Clark, 1917) - Intermediate Sphinx

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Sphingidae

Subfamily:
Macroglossinae

Tribe:
Macroglossini

P3 Number:
890183

MONA Number:
7860.00

Comments: This is largely a Neotropical genus but 12 species are recorded from the U.S. and 5 from North Carolina.

Species Status: Barcodes indicate a single species.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Tuttle (2007)

Adult Markings: Similar but slightly smaller than Eumorpha pandorus; browner and the underside is rusty red instead of gray green (see Brou, 2011, for illustrations). Sexes are similar.

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: As described and illustrated by Tuttle (2007), late instar larvae range in color from green to reddish; pale dorsal and subdorsal stripes are present, along with the usual sphingid pattern of pale oblique stripes -- bordered by black -- along the sides. The entire body is stippled with white setae, which are encircled by black at the base. As is typical for Eumorpha, the caudal horn is well-developed in early instars but is replaced by a button in the last one (see Tuttle, 2007, for details). Pupation occurs underground.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Apparently quite rare in North Carolina, as of 2024 we only have two records from the Coastal Plain.

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) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Unclear in North Carolina.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on the Vitaceae, including wild grapes (Vitis) and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) (Heppner, 2007). Our only larval record (iNaturalist, Heather Perusini) in North Carolina is for a caterpillar apparently feeding on Peppervine (Nekemias arborea). - View

Observation Methods: Adults, like other members of this genus, probably visit flowers but do not come to bait. The scarcity of records both in North Carolina and elsewhere may be due to their lack of attraction to low intensity UV and other lights; more records might be obtained from use of mercury-vapor. Larval surveys of grape and Peppervine may be productive as they are for E. pandorus.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G3G4 SNR [SU]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Most likely, this species is a migrant to our area from its core range along the Gulf Coast. However, records are scarce even within the heart of its range and it is at least possible that it could establish temporary colonies in our area. According to Bo Sullivan: "Other than the single record I took, I have not knowingly seen it since. However, the species is obviously not often seen or not often recognized. You need the underside in order to determine the species which eliminates most photographs. No doubt many are identified as E. pandorus. There is no reason it is not regularly seen in the Coastal Plain since the foodplant (Nekemias arborea) is very common. Sphingids respond to strong UV light sources (mercury vapor, sun lamps, etc.) but many species rarely come to 15 watt UV bulbs. I suspect it is mostly overlooked because it is difficult to catch and to identify."

Photo Gallery for Eumorpha intermedia - Intermediate Sphinx

Photos: 2

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-23
Carteret Co.
Comment:

iNaturalist

Recorded by: heatherperusini - Heather Perusini on 2023-08-21
Hyde Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/179682261 Larva apparently feeding on Peppervine. It was photographed in August 2023, but the exact date has been obscured. Bo Sullivan thought this was most likely a valid record, writing: "It certainly seems to be valid and finding it a little north of previous records should be expected. Other than the single record I took, I have not knowingly seen it since. However, the species is obviously not often seen or not often recognized. You need the underside in order to determine the species which eliminates most photographs. No doubt many are identified as E. pandorus. There is no reason it is not regularly seen in the Coastal Plain since the foodplant (Nekemias arborea) is very common. Sphingids respond to strong UV light sources (mercury vapor, sun lamps, etc.) but many species rarely come to 15 watt UV bulbs. I suspect it is mostly overlooked because it is difficult to catch and to identify."