Istar Sphinx
Common NameIstar Sphinx
Scientific NameSphingonaepiopsis gorgoniades
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)31.5
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatDry grasslands, rocky slopes, steppes, open woodlands
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia
Host PlantsRubia tinctorum, Galium
Flight PeriodApril to June, July to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on madder or bedstraw species and pupate in a cocoon just below the soil surface.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size for a sphinx moth, the intricate cryptic pattern of its forewings, and the presence of a small, often indistinct, white discal spot on each forewing.
Description
A small, robust sphinx moth with forewings displaying a complex, cryptic pattern of mottled brown and grey, often with darker streaks and a small white discal spot.
