Moths of North Carolina
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Eumorpha Members:
40 NC Records

Eumorpha fasciatus (Sulzer, 1776) - Banded Sphinx

Eumorpha fasciatusEumorpha fasciatus
view caption 		Eumorpha fasciatusEumorpha fasciatus
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: SphingidaeSubfamily: MacroglossinaeTribe: MacroglossiniP3 Number: 890187 MONA Number: 7865.00
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 additional species may be unrecognized under this wide-ranging taxon but those from our area seem to be homogeneous.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)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: Fore-wings are marked with light brown costal and outer margins, a paler y-shaped stripe that divides the median area into a three dark zones, and a series of narrow light lines running from the costa to the inner margin; hindwings are pinkish or crimson along the outer and inner margins. Eumorpha vitis is very similar but lacks the tan stripe along the costa. Hyles lineata is also similar but has only a single pale line running through the center of the wing and has a wider band of pink on the hindwing. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 8.7 - 9.6 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae have multiple phenotypes, including a green form and one that is brilliantly marked with red and black stripes in addition to the usual pale lateral stripes; a caudal horn is lacking (see Wagner, 2005, for two examples). Pupation occurs underground.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Larval records so far are limited to the Outer Coastal Plain. Adult records are scattered more widely over the eastern half of the state but at least some could represent migrants or strays.
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: Probably a single brood. This species occurs with some frequency primarily in the late summer and fall.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Nearly all of our records -- both for larvae and adults -- come from shoreline habitats, including both freshwater and saltwater, probably in association with wetland species of Ludwigia.
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding on members of the Onagraceae (Wagner 2005); our larval records are all associated with Ludwigia. - View
Observation Methods: Adults visit flowers but not bait. Adults have been recorded at 15 watt UV lights but the scarcity of records suggests that higher intensity lights, such as mercury-vapor, may be needed to accurately assess its distribution and abundance.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Shoreline Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon in North Carolina, although neither habitat or host plants appear to be limiting factors. Larvae have been observed feeding on Ludwigia several times at Merchant' Millpond State Park, establishing its status as a resident species. Recent larval records from a number of counties suggests that it has breeding populations across most of the state.

 Photo Gallery for Eumorpha fasciatus - Banded Sphinx

39 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2024-10-14
Polk Co.
Comment: Two individuals were observed feeding on Ludwigia alternifolia. 		Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2024-10-14
Polk Co.
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Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-10-18
Polk Co.
Comment: Feeding on Ludwigia alternifolia		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-19
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-18
Wilson Co.
Comment: Feeding on Ludwigia leptocarpa		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, Todd Pusser, Bo Sullivan and Carol Tingley on 2022-09-27
Richmond Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, Todd Pusser, Bo Sullivan and Carol Tingley on 2022-09-27
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-09
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry LeGrand and Ed Corey on 2022-09-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-08-25
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-11-10
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-09
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Nicholas Caira on 2020-10-09
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-09-11
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Beane on 2019-10-19
Richmond Co.
Comment: Many (probably 10+) larvae feeding on Ludwig.		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-10-03
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Chris Helms on 2019-08-19
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2018-09-20
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2018-09-20
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Alicia Ballard and Ali Iyoob on 2018-08-18
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2017-09-20
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chris Jantzen on 2017-09-15
Pitt Co.
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Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2016-09-18
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2016-09-18
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: j.wyche on 2016-08-31
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: j.wyche on 2016-08-02
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: j.wyche on 2016-08-02
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2015-09-01
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2015-08-26
Burke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2015-08-26
Burke Co.
Comment: