Plebeian sphinx
Paratrea plebeja (Fabricius, 1777)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Sphinginae
Identification: Forewing is gray with indistinct black and white markings, a series of black dashes from the base to the tip, and a small white cell spot. Hindwing is dark gray with an obscure dark median band.
Wing Span: 2 3/8 - 3 inches (6 - 7.5 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars hide on the underside of stems during the day, and emerge to feed at night. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in chambers in soft soil. Caterpillars of the second brood pupate and overwinter in their chambers.
Flight: One brood in the north from May-July, at least two broods in the south from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Common trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans), Florida yellow-trumpet (Tecoma stans), lilac (Syringa species), and passionflower (Passiflora species).
Adult Food: Deep-throated flowers including honeysuckle, bouncing bet, and verbena.
Habitat: Not reported.
Range: Connecticut south to Florida; west to Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Ranges south to Veracruz, Mexico.
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: Genus changed from Paratrea to Paratraea. Apparent misspelling. Fixed 8/2009.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Paratrea plebeja
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 145 - 168 of 307 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 22, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jefferson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 09, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Dallas County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 09, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Dent County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 18, 1946
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Elder, William H.)
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1982
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
Observation date: Jun 30, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Morgan, Tom)
Region: Platte County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 20, 1934
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Meiners, E.P.)
Region: Jefferson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Lowe, Chris)
Region: Henry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: May 04, 1965
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: St. Louis City County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 30, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Benton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 09, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Reynolds County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 12, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 01, 1991
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Baker, Rick)
Region: Crawford County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 05, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Texas County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Akers, Cris)
Region: Monroe County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: May 26, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Evans, Doug)
Region: Randolph County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 01, 1886
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Rowley, R.R.)
Region: Pike County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sparkman, Jeff)
Region: Perry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: May 04, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Dykstra, M.)
Region: Lewis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 23, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Barry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heitzman, J. Richard)
Region: Howell County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Sep 01, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Donahue, R.J.)
Region: Bates County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Aug 24, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Koenig, Phillip E.)
Region: St. Charles County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Phillip Koenig; Koenig, Phillip E.)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 14, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Rachel Morin)
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: lorispencer (Lori Spencer)
Verified date: Oct 14, 2008
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