Erinnyis crameri
Encyclopedia
The Cramer's Sphinx is a small member of the Sphingidae
family. It lives from northern South America, through Central America, and into the lower regions of the United States (Texas
and Florida
).
It's wingspan is between 3 1/4 inches and 3 3/4 inches. The upperside of the abdomen is gray, without black bands, and the underside does not have black spots. The upperside of the forewing is dark brown and it may have pale yellow-brown patches at the tip and along the inner edge. The upperside of the hindwing is dull orange with a narrow black border.
Adults are on wing year round in the tropics and southern Florida. Adults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Saponaria officinalis.
The larva
of this species
feeds on several species of the Apocynaceae
family, including Rauvolfia ligustrina, Rauvolfia tetraphylla
and Stemmadenia obovata.
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. It lives from northern South America, through Central America, and into the lower regions of the United States (Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
).
It's wingspan is between 3 1/4 inches and 3 3/4 inches. The upperside of the abdomen is gray, without black bands, and the underside does not have black spots. The upperside of the forewing is dark brown and it may have pale yellow-brown patches at the tip and along the inner edge. The upperside of the hindwing is dull orange with a narrow black border.
Adults are on wing year round in the tropics and southern Florida. Adults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Saponaria officinalis.
The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
of this species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
feeds on several species of the Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...
family, including Rauvolfia ligustrina, Rauvolfia tetraphylla
Rauvolfia tetraphylla
Rauvolfia tetraphylla is a plant in the Apocynaceae family, growing as a bush or small tree. It is commonly known as the devil-pepper or Be still tree. The plant is native to the tropical Americas...
and Stemmadenia obovata.
External links
- Cramer's Sphinx Moths of America