Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members: Darapsa Members: 378 NC Records

Darapsa myron (Cramer, 1780) - Virginia Creeper Sphinx

Darapsa myronDarapsa myron
view caption 		Darapsa myronDarapsa myron
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea		 Family:
Sphingidae		Subfamily:
Macroglossinae		Tribe:
Macroglossini		P3 Number:
890207		 MONA Number:
7885.00		 Other Common Name:
Hog Sphinx
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: A moderately small Sphinx moth that is broadly banded with tan or olive green on its body and forewings; hindwings are extensively reddish orange. The bands are broader than in Darapsa versicolor and the body lacks the mid-dorsal stripe found in that species. The postmedian line in D. myron is curved, whereas it is straight in D. choerilus, a generally redder and slightly larger species. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 5 - 6.5 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae vary from brown to green with features similar to those of other members of this genus. They may be best distinguished by their host plants (see Wagner, 2005 for more information). Pupation occurs underground.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs statewide, including the Barrier Islands and High Mountains
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Darapsa myronAlamance 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 three broods over most of the state but perhaps only two in the mountains. Adults are flying most of the growing season.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Habitats seem to be the same as for several other Vitaceae-feeding Sphinx moths, including dune and scrub communities on the Barrier Islands but hardwood-dominated forests over the rest of the state. Most of our records come from bottomland or mesic forests but there are also some from drier ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on members of the Vitaceae, including grapes and Virginia Creeper (Wagner, 2005). In North Carolina, we have observed larvae on Muscadine (Muscadinia rotundifolia), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis). - View
Observation Methods: Adults visit flowers and are attracted to bait. Comes well to 15 watt UV lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Given its wide distribution across the state, broad range of habitats and use of common host plants, this species appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Darapsa myron - Virginia Creeper Sphinx

 247 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Darapsa myronRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-06-30
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-06-26
Durham Co.
Comment:
Darapsa myronRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Darapsa myronRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-31
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-19
Carteret Co.
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Darapsa myronRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Darapsa myronRecorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: R. Newman on 2025-04-25
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Darapsa myronRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-04-21
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Darapsa myronRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-06
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
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Darapsa myronRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-03
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-30
Madison Co.
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Darapsa myronRecorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-20
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-20
Orange Co.
Comment:
Darapsa myronRecorded by: David George on 2024-08-19
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-08-14
Carteret Co.
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Darapsa myronRecorded by: Robyn N. Culpepper on 2024-08-12
Perquimans Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Robyn N. Culpepper on 2024-08-12
Perquimans Co.
Comment:
Darapsa myronRecorded by: Robyn N. Culpepper on 2024-08-12
Perquimans Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-05
Mitchell Co.
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Darapsa myronRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-08-04
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-03
Madison Co.
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Darapsa myronRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-07-30
Orange Co.
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Darapsa myronRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa myronRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-06
Graham Co.
Comment: