Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Sphingidae Members:	Hyles Members:	69 NC Records

Hyles lineata (Fabricius, 1775) - White-lined Sphinx

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Sphingidae

Subfamily:
Macroglossinae

Tribe:
Macroglossini

P3 Number:
890217

MONA Number:
7894.00

Other Common Names:
Purslane Caterpillar, White-lined Hawk Moth

Comments: Our only truly cosmopolitan genus of some 29 species of which 3 occur in North America and 1 in North Carolina.

Species Status: Barcodes indicate a single species in our area.

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 striking, robust species. Fore-wings are dark brown with a tan diagonal streak and cross-banded with a series of fine white lines . The hindwings have bands of black along the costal and outer margins with a bright pink band in between. In our area, this species is likely to be confused only with the much larger Eumorpha fasciata, which has two tan streaks on the forewing and a pink outer edge to the hindwing. Sexes are similar.

Wingspan: 6.3 - 9 cm (Covell, 1984)

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

Immatures and Development: Larvae are highly variable in both color and pattern, ranging from green to black to yellow and often with a complex pattern of streaks and spots (see Wagner, 2005, for details). Pupation occurs underground.

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Occurs statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains.

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 2-3 broods over most of the state.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The majority of our records come from open habitats, especially dune habitats on Barrier Islands and lake and river shorelines and wet meadows inland.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are reportedly polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of plants (including surprisingly small plants for such a large caterpillar). Potential native hosts include Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium), Lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album), willowherb (Epilobium), fleabane (Erigeron), evening-primrose (Oenothera), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), plantain (Plantago), purslane (Portulaca), cherry (Prunus), currant (Ribes), rose (Rosa), blackberry (Rubus), elderberry (Sambucus), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), and cocklebur (Xanthium) (Mejia et al., 2020). Of these, we only have confirmed records for evening-primrose (including Oenothera biennis) and purslane, and more research is needed to determine if other hosts are used in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: Actively visits flowers even during the day but does not come to bait. Appears to come relatively well to 15 watt UV lights and building lights. Larvae are often conspicuous and in the deserts of the west can form tremendous outbreaks.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Successional Fields and Forblands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Statewide in distribution and occupying a wide range of open habitats, including disturbed areas, this species appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Hyles lineata - White-lined Sphinx

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

	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-07-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-04-14 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-13 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-08-08 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-25 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-10-08 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-10 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: C. Taunton on 2020-08-14 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2020-08-05 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-23 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-08-05 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-07-17 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lori Owenby on 2015-09-05 Catawba Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2015-08-25 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-07-27 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-07-27 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: NEW on 2015-07-25 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-05-26 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2013-09-13 Yancey Co. Comment: Photo determined by James Tuttle; prepupal individual
	Recorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2011-08-21 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Taylor Piephoff on 2011-08-13 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Anderson on 2010-09-10 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2010-08-20 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: FKW on 2009-10-30 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: FKW on 2009-10-14 Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: FKW, SBW on 2009-10-05 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Salman Abdulali on 2009-08-01 Pitt Co. Comment: