Hydrangea sphinx
Darapsa versicolor (Harris, 1839)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Forewing upperside is greenish brown with curved dark lines and pinkish-white patches. Hindwing upperside is pale yellow to reddish brown with white along the costal margin, greenish brown along the outer margin, and white shaded with greenish brown on the inner margin.
Wing Span: 2 1/4 - 3 1/8 inches (5.8 - 8 cm).
Life History: Eggs hatch about 7 days after they are laid. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate under leaf litter in loose cocoons of leaves and silk.
Flight: . One brood; from June-July in the north, March-September in Louisiana, and February-July in Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), and waterwillow (Decodon verticillatus).
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: Not reported.
Range: Maine south to south Florida, west to Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 126 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_20240703_103616_692.jpg?itok=BzwC8p9C)
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: Soma_Reyes
Region: Swain County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/hydrangea_sphinx_20230715.jpg?itok=3AC7GU7-)
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Highland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 13, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20220824_153403.jpg?itok=hq-ORZcx)
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: woodlydia97
Region: Laurens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p7279016.jpg?itok=ZR-LRb9_)
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: Quaker state mothing
Region: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2019
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/d_versicolor.jpg?itok=gJmymz6i)
Observation date: Jul 23, 2019
Submitted by: jrgarris.sr
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/29542544_1707170095993299_5139102371674062848_o.jpg?itok=OKDySMST)
Observation date: Mar 20, 2018
Submitted by: Ray Jay
Region: Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 21, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/bhigg7884-franklin-072816.jpg?itok=fhgij6BX)
Observation date: Jul 28, 2016
Submitted by: Betsy Higgins
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 01, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8252v.jpg?itok=eiIpEhUh)
Observation date: Jul 23, 2016
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 25, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/wp_20160721_001.jpg?itok=w7n_eqQn)
Observation date: Jul 21, 2016
Submitted by: blaisbb
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 22, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/photo_328.jpg?itok=fqHv5Uaj)
Observation date: Jul 16, 2014
Submitted by: seanmfox
Region: Huron County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/07884-darapsa_versicolor-hydrangeasphinx-gt9a5299.jpg?itok=ls4jRRS3)
Observation date: Jun 02, 2015
Submitted by: Ken Childs
Region: Chester County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Jun 09, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/07884_-_darapsa_versicolor_-_hydrangea_sphinx_moth_fl_polk_co_colt_crk_st_pk_apr_10_20150451.jpg?itok=dJ6owiUj)
Observation date: Apr 03, 2015
Submitted by: Roy Morris
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 15, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/7884_hydrangea_sphinx_darapsa_versicolor.jpg?itok=QQ8vgM3I)
Observation date: Sep 05, 2013
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Oswego County, New York, United States
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Mar 14, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/7884_-_darapsa_versicolor_-_hydrangea_sphinx_july_7_2013_athol_ma_9.jpg?itok=O2zlHPwk)
Observation date: Jul 07, 2013
Submitted by: dhsmall
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jul 08, 2013
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/hydrangea_sphinx1.jpg?itok=Kt6hv2pt)
Observation date: May 25, 2012
Submitted by: Bachasaur
Region: St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/hydrangea.jpg?itok=Gydz-89K)
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: Bachasaur
Region: Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: May 29, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/592012.jpg?itok=c1xTMEZG)
Observation date: May 09, 2012
Submitted by: Bachasaur
Region: Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: May 16, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 05, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jerry McWilliams)
Region: Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman (Curt Lehman)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/1712_70.jpg?itok=Dnnjrejn)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brower, A.E.)
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Brower, A.E.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
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Observation date: Jun 01, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Stoddard County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jun 12, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Smart, Glen)
Region: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 25, 1966
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: McDonald County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Aug 22, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Riley, T.J.)
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
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