Tersa Sphinx
Xylophanes tersa (Linnaeus, 1771)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Forewing upperside is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Hindwing upperside is dark brown with a band of whitish wedge-shaped marks.
Wing Span: 2 3/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6 - 8 cm).
Life History: Adults begin feeding at sunset.
Flight: . One brood in the north from May-October, several broods in Florida and Louisiana from February-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters (Pentas species), Borreria, Catalpa, and Manettia species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including honeysuckle (Lonicera).
Habitat: Not reported.
Range: Massachusetts south to south Florida; west to Nebraska, New Mexico, and southern Arizona; south through Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America to Argentina.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 944 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: Lprox112
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Sep 04, 2024
Submitted by: kdegeiso
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: Lilbitajoy
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 30, 2024
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: HorseFeather
Region: Sampson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 09, 2024
Submitted by: smb92468
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Humphreys County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2024
Submitted by: Greg A Bingaman Sr
Region: Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Apr 11, 2024
Submitted by: dondubois
Region: Texas, Montgomery County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 18, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: michellelynn1982
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 29, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: michellelynn1982
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 29, 2024
Observation date: Feb 10, 2024
Submitted by: Mohr824
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2019
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 27, 2024
Observation date: Jan 25, 2024
Submitted by: Spencer-Reeves
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 26, 2024
Observation date: Nov 19, 2023
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 06, 2023
Observation date: Nov 16, 2023
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 23, 2023
Submitted by: rahnrm
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 24, 2023
Submitted by: JessieC
Region: Horry County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 27, 2023
Observation date: Oct 25, 2023
Submitted by: Lise7997
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 26, 2023
Observation date: Oct 16, 2023
Submitted by: Rhealynn
Region: Texas, Rains County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: gennyboy
Region: Gordon County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
Observation date: Sep 28, 2023
Submitted by: ScreaminScott1
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: Ralph Unger
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Marion County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 22, 2023
Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: Janellednesbit@...
Region: Harnett County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 16, 2023
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