Wiest's primrose sphinx Euproserpinus wiesti Sperry, 1939

Family: Sphingidae

Subfamily: Macroglossinae

Identification: Body is black with a white band across the abdomen. Forewing upperside is gray-brown; median area has black lines and a gray band; underside is white with a black outer margin. Hindwing upperside is yellowish white with a narrow black outer margin and black at the base; underside is white with black at the base and a black marginal band.

Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 15/16 inches (3.2 - 4.9 cm).

Life History: Adults fly during the day. Females lay eggs singly at the base of host leaves; eggs hatch in 7-10 days. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in underground cells.

Flight: . One brood from May-June.

Caterpillar Hosts: Prairie primrose (Oenothera latifolia) in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae).

Adult Food: Probably flower nectar.

Habitat: Sand washes and blow-outs in prairies.

Range: Northeast Colorado south to northern New Mexico, west to southern Utah and northern Arizona.

Conservation: Switzerland. 632 pages.

NCGR: G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range).

Management Needs: Monitor grazing effects on habitat and minimize spraying on known populations.

Comments: NULL

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