Ello Sphinx
Common NameEllo Sphinx
Scientific NameErinnyis ello
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)80
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatTropical and subtropical open woodlands, gardens, disturbed areas, and agricultural fields.
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (Florida, Texas, Arizona), Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Host PlantsManihot esculenta, Jatropha, Ricinus communis, Carica papaya
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; multiple broods from spring to fall in temperate areas.
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are typically green or brown with eye spots, feeding on various spurge family plants. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon in leaf litter or just below the soil surface.
Identification TipsKey features include the intricate, mottled brown and grey forewing pattern with dark lines, the stout body with dark abdominal bands, and the often visible orange-red hindwings (though not clearly visible in this dorsal view).
Description
A large, robust moth with cryptically patterned forewings in shades of brown, grey, and black, featuring intricate stripes and mottling. Its stout abdomen is distinctly banded with dark segments.
