Eumorpha vitis


Eumorpha vitis, known as the vine sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae.

Distribution

It lives from Argentina north through Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico to southern Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, and Florida. Strays north to Nebraska.

Description

The wingspan is 85–105 mm.

Biology

Adults are on wing from April to May and again from July to October in Florida, from July to September in one generation in the northern part of the range and year-round in the tropics. They feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Vinca rosea.
The larvae feed on Vitis species, Cissus species, Ludwigia decurrens, Ludwigia erecta, Magnolia virginiana and Parthenocissus species.

Subspecies

Eumorpha vitis vitis Eumorpha vitis fuscatus - Eumorpha vitis hesperidum -