Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members: Darapsa Members: 131 NC Records

Darapsa choerilus (Cramer, [1780]) - Azalea Sphinx

Darapsa choerilus
view caption 		Darapsa choerilusDarapsa choerilusDarapsa choerilus
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea		 Family:
Sphingidae		Subfamily:
Macroglossinae		Tribe:
Macroglossini		P3 Number:
890208		 MONA Number:
7886.00
Comments: This genus of medium sized moths contains three species, all found in North Carolina. Long known as D. pholus, the correct name for this species is choerilus. Tuttle (2007) gives a history of these names.
Species Status: Bar codes indicate a single species throughout its range.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Darapsa pholus); 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: Intermediate in size between the larger Darapsa versicolor and the smaller D. myron, D. choerilus is a redder color than those species and is distinguished by its straight postmedian line (curved in the other two). Sexes are similar.
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: Widely distributed in the state except possibly the Barrier Islands.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Darapsa choerilusAlamance 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.
Flight Comments: Probably single brooded in the Mountains and double brooded in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Occurs more frequently in peatland and Longleaf Pine communities than the other two members of this genus, probably in associations with Azaleas and/or Viburnum nudum, an acidophilic species of Viburnum. Conversely, it does not appear to be present on the Barrier Islands where neither Azaleas nor Viburnums occur. Over most of the state, it also occurs in bottomlands, mesic slopes, and basic forests where Viburnums are common members of the shrub layer. In the Mountains, it occurs in cove forests, high elevation hardwoods, and possibly heath balds, all of which support a diversity of Azaleas.
Larval Host Plants: Reported hosts include Rhododendron, Gaylussacia, Viburnum, and Nyssa (Wagner, 2005; Mejia et al., 2020). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: Adults frequent flowers and come to bait. Comes regularly to 15 watt UV lights and is also seen around outdoor lights on buildings.
Wikipedia
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: 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 choerilus - Azalea Sphinx

 70 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-27
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-27
Graham Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-18
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-12
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-29
Madison Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-12
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-13
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-05-12
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Darapsa choerilusRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-29
Madison Co.
Comment: