Tersa Sphinx
Xylophanes tersa (Linnaeus, 1771)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Forewing upperside is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Hindwing upperside is dark brown with a band of whitish wedge-shaped marks.
Wing Span: 2 3/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6 - 8 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding at sunset.
Flight: . One brood in the north from May-October, several broods in Florida and Louisiana from February-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters (Pentas species), Borreria, Catalpa, and Manettia species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including honeysuckle (Lonicera).
Habitat: Not reported.
Range: Massachusetts south to south Florida; west to Nebraska, New Mexico, and southern Arizona; south through Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America to Argentina.
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 25 - 48 of 932 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 25, 2024
Submitted by: Spencer-Reeves
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 26, 2024
Observation date: Nov 19, 2023
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 06, 2023
Observation date: Nov 16, 2023
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 23, 2023
Submitted by: rahnrm
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 24, 2023
Submitted by: JessieC
Region: Horry County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 27, 2023
Observation date: Oct 25, 2023
Submitted by: Lise7997
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 26, 2023
Observation date: Oct 16, 2023
Submitted by: Rhealynn
Region: Texas, Rains County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: gennyboy
Region: Gordon County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: ScreaminScott1
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: Ralph Unger
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Marion County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 22, 2023
Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: Janellednesbit@...
Region: Harnett County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 16, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: JA2023
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2023
Submitted by: LukaCustoms
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: JamieLynn
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 13, 2023
Observation date: Mar 14, 2023
Submitted by: PinkKong369
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2016
Submitted by: greenesnake@yah...
Region: Madison County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 12, 2023
Observation date: Oct 04, 2016
Submitted by: greenesnake@yah...
Region: Gibson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 12, 2023
Observation date: Nov 19, 2016
Submitted by: beatoanita
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2021
Submitted by: JamesD2021
Region: St. James Parish, Jamaica
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 31, 2023
Observation date: Oct 21, 2016
Submitted by: Joe Lafferty
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 03, 2016
Submitted by: michaeljc57
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: Jan 11, 2015
Submitted by: mikeakresh
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
Observation date: Mar 20, 2014
Submitted by: mikeakresh
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
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