Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members:
Darapsa Members:
19 NC Records

Darapsa versicolor (Harris, 1839) - Hydrangea Sphinx

Darapsa versicolor
view caption 		Darapsa versicolorDarapsa versicolorDarapsa versicolor
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: SphingidaeSubfamily: MacroglossinaeTribe: MacroglossiniP3 Number: 890206 MONA Number: 7884.00
Comments: This genus of medium sized moths contains three species, all found in 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: Fore-wings and body are olive green narrowly banded with curved white lines that are occasionally shaded with pale pink or purplish; hindwings are reddish. Darapsa versicolor may be our most beautiful sphinx; a freshly emerged specimen is absolutely gorgeous. Sexes are similar. Larvae are green or brown with small heads; the usual Sphingid pattern of seven oblique pale stripes run through the spiracles and frosted with white spots (Wagner, 2005).
Wingspan: 5.8 - 8 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae of all three species of Darapsa are similar and may be best distinguished by their host plants (see Wagner, 2005 for more information).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Potentially occurs statewide but records are extremely scarce and scattered.
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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