Darapsa versicolor
Encyclopedia
The Hydrangea sphinx is a member of the Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...

 family that inhabits eastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

, often in wetlands.

Their wingspans can reach 58 to 80 mm, their forewings are green-brown with curved white patches. In the northern portion of its range there is one flight from June to July and in the southern range they are seen most of the warm months.

The caterpillar of this species feeds on Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens
Hydrangea arborescens
Hydrangea arborescens, commonly known as Smooth Hydrangea, Wild Hydrangea, or Sevenbark, is a small to medium sized, deciduous shrub up to 3 m tall that is native to the eastern United States.-Range/Habitat:...

), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to eastern and southern North America. Common names include Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button-willow and Honey-bells....

), and Water-willow (Decodon verticillatus
Decodon verticillatus
Decodon verticillatus, the sole species in the genus Decodon, is a flowering plant in the Lythraceae family. It is commonly known as waterwillow or swamp loosestrife. It is endemic to wetlands in the eastern half of the United States.-Description:Waterwillow is a clump-forming shrubby perennial...

).
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