Tersa Sphinx
Common NameTersa Sphinx
Scientific NameXylophanes tersa
FamilySphingidae
SubfamilyMacroglossinae
Wingspan (mm)70
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, tan, reddish-brown
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, suburban gardens, fields
Geographic RangeSouthern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America (migratory north into eastern North America)
Host Plantsbuttonbush, coffee, gardenia, mallow
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods in temperate regions, year-round in tropics)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are typically green or brown with prominent eyespots, feeding on various plants before pupating in a shallow burrow in the soil. Adults are strong flyers and nectar at flowers, especially at dusk.
Identification TipsKey features include the distinctive diagonal dark stripes on the forewings and the prominent dark central stripe running along the thorax and abdomen. The hindwings, though not visible dorsally, are typically dark with a pale median band.
Description
A medium-sized hawk-moth with a streamlined, pointed body and angular forewings. Its forewings are tan to reddish-brown with several distinct dark diagonal stripes, and the body features a prominent dark central stripe.
