Great ash sphinx
Sphinx chersis (Hübner, 1823)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. Hindwing is black with blurry pale gray bands.
Wing Span: 3 9/16 - 5 1/8 inches (9 - 13 cm).
Life History: Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in burrows in the soil. Caterpillars from the second generation pupate and overwinter in their burrows.
Flight: . Two broods in the south from May-June and from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of plants including lilac (Syringa vulgaris), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), ash (Fraxinus), and privet (Ligustrum).
Adult Food: Deep-throated flowers such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), dogbane (Apocynum), and evening primrose (Onagraceae).
Habitat: A wide variety of woodlands and arid western scrublands.
Range: Mexico north through most of the United States, but rare in the Gulf States.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 476 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 25, 2013
Submitted by: cruznarro
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
Observation date: Aug 17, 2021
Submitted by: ForestMama
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: CynDye
Region: Butler County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: DuncanTaylor
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Crevettola
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2016
Submitted by: jipsijays
Region: Josephine County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 18, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2017
Submitted by: JosefDieckman
Region: Curry County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 17, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2017
Submitted by: Tara8273
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 17, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2018
Submitted by: Globejs86
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2019
Submitted by: mckennafisk
Region: Douglas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2020
Submitted by: meghrounds
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 15, 2021
Observation date: Oct 06, 2017
Submitted by: lee_ferguson
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: g23guy
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: Jstenholm
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Sep 30, 2019
Submitted by: aiarceo
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 01, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2014
Submitted by: mandeelee
Region: Providence County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2018
Submitted by: Rangertsp
Region: Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2009
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2011
Submitted by: wade wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Rviezel
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: Bugfinders
Region: Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2018
Submitted by: Sue Gregoire
Region: Schuyler County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jan 03, 2020
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