Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Sphingidae Members:	Amphion Members:	87 NC Records

Amphion floridensis B.P. Clark, 1920 - Nessus Sphinx

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Sphingidae

Subfamily:
Macroglossinae

Tribe:
Macroglossini

P3 Number:
890194

MONA Number:
7873.00

Comments: The only member of this genus.

Species Status: Barcodes indicate a single species throughout its range.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)

Adult Markings: A small day-flying Sphinx. Like Hemaris species, Amphion is a bumblebee/hummingbird mimic, possessing two distinctive yellow rings on its abdomen and a tuft of feather-like scales at the tip of the abdomen; unlike Hemaris, however, the wings are opaque rather than transparent, brown on the forewings and reddish on the hindwings. Sexes are similar.

Wingspan: 3.7 - 5.5 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult Structural Features: The tongue is well-developed.

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

Immatures and Development: Larvae are green in early instars but brown in the last ones; they rest on the ground during the day (Forbes, 1948; Wagner, 2005). The head is relatively small and squarish (Forbes, 1948). In addition to the obscure oblique lines along the sides, a pale subdorsal stripe is also present. Pupation occurs underground.

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Potentially occurs statewide, though more data are needed on its exact habitats.

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 has two broods.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Many of our records come from barrier islands where grape tangles occur in dune habitats. Elsewhere, our records come primarily from wet to mesic hardwood-dominated forests. The widespread distribution of its host plants suggests that it could be found in a range of habitats.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on members of the Vitaceae. Wagner (2005) lists grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and peppervine (Ampelopsis). In North Carolina, we have observed larvae feeding on grape and Virginia Creeper. - View

Observation Methods: Look for this species in the daytime or at dusk visiting flowers. Also visits fruit, feces, sap and wet sand. It responds well to fermented baits and traps often demonstrate that the species can be quite common in area where it has otherwise never been seen. None of our records come from lights.

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: This species is far less commonly observed than Hemaris thysbe or H. diffinis, two other day-flying species that visit flowers. Use of baits during its daytime flight period may provide a more accurate picture of its distribution and abundance within the state. The frequency of citizen scientist records suggests that the species may relatively common, but undersampled due to its diurnal habits.

Photo Gallery for Amphion floridensis - Nessus Sphinx

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

	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-24 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-03 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-03 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-03 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brittany German on 2024-05-18 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Brittany German on 2024-05-18 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brittany German on 2024-05-18 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-04-15 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Laura Graham on 2024-04-15 Gaston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-26 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-10-11 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-10-11 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2023-04-12 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2023-04-12 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-08-14 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-05-22 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2022-04-29 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2022-04-29 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2022-04-29 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2021-04-25 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-08-12 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-08-11 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jason and Amy Epley on 2020-04-04 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Amy Epley on 2020-04-04 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Barbara McRae on 2020-04-02 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Barbara McRae on 2020-04-02 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2019-09-03 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-08-03 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips on 2019-03-31 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2018-04-10 Cabarrus Co. Comment: