SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Darapsa choerilus

(Cramer, 1780)

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 Common Name(s): Azalea Sphinx

Ecology/Life History Overview: This can be one of the most common Sphingidae in the Eastern USA. It is also found in Canada and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Darapsa choerilus is found in a wide variety of habitats and often thrives in urban areas close to people. It flies in the summer months in the Northeast, but can be found most of the year in the deep South. This species does feed, and will come readily to baited trees as well as light. The larvae of this species are found on Viburnum, Kalmia, and Azalea including many of the cultivated species.

Habitat/Searching for Larvae: This moth is found in a variety of habitats, from deciduous forests, to urban areas, to pine barrens and everywhere in between. In landscaped areas, Viburnum species are often heavily favored, which directly benefits this species. The common name of this species is an interesting choice, while not incorrect, this species is found far more often on Viburnum or Kalmia than on Azalea. In the Pine Barrens, this species can also occasionally be found on Vaccinium (1). Finding larvae can be difficult, in the Northeast, Viburnum species used by this moth are also usually defoliated by the Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) which makes searching for the plants difficult at best (1). 

Rearing Notes: The larvae are very easily reared in captivity, and have no problem pupating in either moist paper towel or soil. Larvae should not be overcrowded, nor kept too humid. Rearing larvae in tupperware works quite well. Bill Ohelke mentions that this species will readily lay eggs in captivity, just by placing the adult female moth in a paper bag (5).

Adult description: This is a small sphingid, with forewings each measuring 27-34mm (2). The general color of this moth is reddish brown, though some individuals do have a lovely pink hue. Unlike Darapsa myron this moth lacks distinctive striped markings on the forewings. This moth is usually bicolored, with the dividing line being slightly lower than the discal spot on the forewing. The area below the discal spot is much darker.  The apex of the wing is usually lighter and almost pink. Tuttle notes that the quickest way to determine Darapsa choerilus is by the presence of a white/cream dorsal stripe on the abdomen and thorax (2). Darapsa myron may have a lighter patch on the thorax, but it is not a distinctive line.

Larval description:
L4: At this stage, the larva is green with one single abdominal streak that runs from the last pair of prolegs to the rough, green caudal horn.
L5: This is a stout, typically green larva, but also has a reddish-brown form. The larva has bright red spiracles and several white streaks that encompass the spiracles. The streaks may be quite faint, especially toward the front of the larva. The last several streaks may bleed together to form one large white streak which extends to the backward-angled bluish horn. Superficially this larva is very similar to Darapsa myron but lacks the red-orange markings of that species. The swollen A1-2 segments are pronounced and like other members of this genus, it will retract its head into them if disturbed.
Picture
(C) Teá Montagna
Picture
Picture
Host plants:
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The gallery to the left contains photos of Darapsa choerilus adults. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.

The gallery to the right contains photos of Darapsa choerilus larval and pupal stages. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.
(C) Eric Eaton
(C) Jon Mularczyk
(C) Ken Childs
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Kesting-Handly
(C) Teá Kesting-Handly
(C) Teá Kesting-Handly
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Maya Shikhman
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Tom Murray
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
(C) Alex Baranowski
(C) Alex Baranowski
(C) Alex Baranowski
(C) Alex Baranowski
(C) Alex Baranowski
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L1 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L1 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna

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Macroglossinae

Aellopos clavipes
Aellopos fadus
Aellopos tantalus
Aellopos titan
Amphion floridensis
Cautethia grotei
Callionima falcifera
Callionima parce
Darapsa choerilus
Darapsa myron
Darapsa versicolor
Deidemia inscriptum
Enyo lugubris
Enyo ocypete
Erinnyis alope
Erinnyis crameri
Erinnyis ello
Erinnyis guttularis
Erinnyis lassauxii
Erinnyis oenotrus
Erinnyis obscura
Eumorpha achemon
Eumorpha fasciatus
Eumorpha intermedia
Eumorpha labruscae
Eumorpha pandorus
Eumorpha satellitia
Eumorpha vitis
Eumorpha typhon
Eupyrrhoglossum sagra​
Hemaris diffinis
Hemaris gracilis
Hemaris thysbe
Hyles euphorbiae
Hyles gallii
Hyles lineata
Madoryx pseudothyreus
Pachylioides resumens
Pachylia ficus
Perigonia lusca
Phryxus caicus
Proserpinus flavofasciata
Proserpinus clarkiae
Proserpinus gaurae
Proserpinus lucidus
Pseudosphinx tetrio
Sphecodina abbottii
Xylophanes falco
Xylophanes pluto
Xylophanes libya
Xylophanes porcus
Xylophanes tersa

Smerinthinae

Protambulyx strigilis
Amorpha juglandis
Pachysphinx modesta
Pachysphinx occidentalis
Paonias astylus
Paonias excaecata
Paonias myops
Smerinthus cerisyi
Smerinthus jamaicensis
Smerinthus astarte
Smerinthus ophthalmica

Sphinginae

Agrius cingulata
Ceratomia amyntor
Ceratomia catalpae
Ceratomia hageni
Ceratomia undulosa
Cocytius antaeus
Cocytius duponchel
Dolba hyloeus
Isoparce cupressi
Lapara bombycoides
Lapara coniferarum
Lintneria istar
Lintneria separatus
Lintneria eremitus
Manduca jasminearum
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Manduca muscosa
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Neococytius cluentius
Paratrea plebeja
Sphinx canadensis
Sphinx chersis
Sphinx dollii
Sphinx drupiferarum
Sphinx frankii
Sphinx gordius
Sphinx kalmiae
Sphinx leucophaeata
Sphinx luscitiosa
Sphinx pinastri
Sphinx poecila 
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  • Home
  • Sphingidae Index
    • Macroglossinae >
      • Aellopos >
        • Aellopos clavipes
        • Aellopos fadus
        • Aellopos tantalus
        • Aellopos titan
      • Amphion >
        • Amphion floridensis
      • Callionima >
        • Callionima falcifera
      • Cautethia >
        • Cautethia grotei
      • Darapsa >
        • Darapsa versicolor
        • Darapsa myron
        • Darapsa choerilus
      • Deidamia >
        • Deidamia inscriptum
      • Enyo >
        • Enyo lugubris
        • Enyo ocypete
      • Erinnyis >
        • Erinnyis alope
        • Erinnyis crameri
        • Erinnyis ello
        • Erinnyis cubensis
        • Erinnyis lassauxii
        • Erinnyis oenotrus
        • Erinnyis obscura
      • Eumorpha >
        • Eumorpha pandorus
        • Eumorpha achemon
        • Eumorpha fasciatus
        • Eumorpha satellitia
        • Eumorpha labruscae
        • Eumorpha intermedia
        • Eumorpha vitis
        • Eumorpha typhon
      • Eupyrrhoglossum >
        • Eupyrrhoglossum sagra
      • Hemaris >
        • Hemaris thysbe
        • Hemaris gracilis
        • Hemaris diffinis
        • Hemaris aethra
      • Hyles >
        • Hyles gallii
        • Hyles euphorbiae
        • Hyles lineata
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        • Pachylioides resumens
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        • Pachylia ficus
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    • Smerinthinae >
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      • Pachysphinx >
        • Pachysphinx modesta
        • Pachysphinx occidentalis
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        • Paonias astylus
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