''Sphinx canadensis'', the Canadian sphinx, is a member of the family
Sphingidae. The species was
first described by
Jean Baptiste Boisduval
Jean Baptiste Alphonse Déchauffour de Boisduval (24 June 1799 – 30 December 1879) was a French lepidopterist, botanist, and physician.
He was one of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, and was the co-founder of the Société entomol ...
in 1875.
Distribution
That is found the northeastern United States and as north as
Newfoundland and Labrador,
Canada.
Description
The adult's wingspan is between 70 and 85 mm. It is often confused with the hermit sphinx (''
Sphinx eremitus'') throughout their overlaying areas, but unlike ''S. eremitus'' it has no white spot. The forewing of this species is gray brown with black streaks along the veins, interrupted by white lines along the outer margin. The hindwing is patterned with black and white bands.
Biology
It was previously thought that the larvae of this species fed on both white ash (''
Fraxinus americana'') and blueberry (''
Vaccinium''), but recent observations suggest that the only larval host plant is black ash (''
Fraxinus nigra
''Fraxinus nigra'', the black ash, is a species of ash native to much of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, from western Newfoundland west to southeastern Manitoba, and south to Illinois and northern Virginia. Formerly abundant, a ...
'') which grows at the edges of swamps. Phlox (''
Phlox'' species) and bouncing bet (''
Saponaria officinalis'') are the preferred nectar sources. Adults fly much later in the year than other sphinx moth species; most adults are collected in very late July or early August. The black patches on the sides of the larvae are thought to mimic the curled leaves of black ash.
References
Moths of North America
Sphinx (genus)
Moths described in 1875
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