Obscure sphinx
Erinnyis obscura (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Upperside of the female forewing is dark gray to brownish gray with black markings on the basal half and near the center of the costa; some females are nearly all black. Upperside of the male forewing is pale gray with black markings and a black line in the center running from the base to about three-fourths of the wing length. In both sexes, the hindwing upperside is orange with a narrow black border.
Wing Span: 2 3/16 - 2 9/16 inches (5.6 - 6.5 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding at sunset. Caterpillars pupate in cocoons spun on the soil surface.
Flight: . Several flights throughout the year in the tropics, south Florida, and South Texas. One flight from August-October northward.
Caterpillar Hosts: Papaya (Carica papaya), various plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) including Philibertia and Cynanchum species, and various plants in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) including Poinsettia.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical lowlands.
Range: Uruguay north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to Florida, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. Has strayed to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania.
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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 146 verified sightings
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 04, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 19, 2022
Observation date: Oct 13, 2022
Submitted by: podalirius
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2021
Submitted by: Philip McNally
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2020
Submitted by: Greg Sievert
Region: Lyon County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020
Observation date: Feb 20, 2020
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 20, 2020
Observation date: Oct 11, 2018
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Boone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Jan 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 16, 2019
Submitted by: chungwei3wei
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: vgratias@gmail.com
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 26, 2019
Observation date: Nov 07, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 01, 2018
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 28, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 27, 2018
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 01, 2018
Submitted by: marley
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Nov 09, 2018
Submitted by: RavenPaw13
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Dec 13, 2016
Submitted by: marley
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Oct 26, 2018
Submitted by: Lpsloverlol
Region: Texas, Wise County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 27, 2018
Observation date: Nov 14, 2017
Submitted by: mako252
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 01, 2018
Observation date: Sep 19, 2017
Submitted by: Quivira NWR
Region: Stafford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 07, 2018
Observation date: Oct 24, 2017
Submitted by: tracielrodgers
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2017
Observation date: Oct 04, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 24, 2017
Observation date: Oct 05, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 24, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 24, 2017
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