SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Eumorpha fasciatus

(Sulzer, 1776)

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Common Name(s): Lesser Vine Sphinx;
Banded Sphinx

Ecology/Life History Overview: This moth is on the wing in the summer months, but can be found year-round in more southern locales. While this species doesn’t often breed in places with prolonged frost, it does frequently inhabit such locales as an adult or even larvae in the fall. It is not uncommon to find larvae in MD, NJ, and New England and vagrant adults are collected with some frequency each year in these places. This moth quickly populates many areas during summer months, and can be encountered as larvae throughout the South and most of the Mississippi Valley.

Habitat/Searching for Larvae: This can be a surprisingly common sphingid, especially in swamps and coastal areas of the South. The larvae are most associated with Ludwigia which often grows as a weed in roadside drainage ditches. Larvae don’t usually leave the plant, and can be found fairly quickly by examining the lower branches first, then making your way inward and upward, searching the bottoms of the stems. The larger larvae tend to sit in the denser parts of the plant, emerging at night to feed. Some Ludwigia species grow much denser and bushier, making searching trickier. Don’t think that just because a plant is mostly underwater that it won’t yield caterpillars, final instars of this species have been spotted swimming to shore from plants that are just barely above water. The larvae do glow slightly under UV light, making them easier to spot.

Rearing Notes: Larvae are easy to rear in captivity and do well on cut hostplant. Ludwigia holds in water quite well and will keep for a few days in a sealed container. Larvae grow significantly larger when reared on potted hostplant, and as such, this method is often better. Ludwigia grows extremely easily indoors, and does like to have about an inch of water at the bottom of the pot. The larvae do need to be kept in a rather moist environment to pupate successfully, paper towel works quite well. The pupae will emerge in 3-4 weeks if kept in a warm area. Adults eclose just after dusk, and are fairly inactive until the next evening.

Adult description:
A medium sized sphingid, with each forewing measuring about 44-49mm in length (2). It closely resembles Eumorpha vitis. Tuttle notes the best way to separate the two species is to examine the hindwing, in E. fasciatus, the hindwing has a pink outer margin, whereas in E. vitis only the anal angle of the hindwing is pink (2). Another quick separator is the costal edge of the forewing, which is light brown in this species and remains the same as the ground color in E. vitis. The forewings of this moth are quite well patterned. The base color is a dark brown. It has several thick lighter brown lines running through it and several veins on the outer wing margin are outlined in this light brown color as well.


Larval Description:
L1: A small green hornworm with a large horn.
L3: At this stage, the larva has a black and red horn that curves slightly. The body is green, and the spiracles may be surrounded by bright red splotches.
L4: The fourth instar larva displays immense variation. The base color can be green, red, pink, yellow, or multi-colored. In all forms, the caudal horn is entirely reduced, or is a small nub in some cases. The green form often has red and white splotches surrounding the spiracles. In other color morphs, these areas surrounding the spiracles may be white. The multi-colored forms are bright, flashy, and don’t seem to have a discernible pattern like the other forms. 
L5: One of the most highly variable larvae in the United States and perhaps the world. It can range in color from green or multicolored. The body of this larva is uniform in girth, unlike other Eumorpha spp. which often have enlarged abdominal segments. The caudal horn is gone, and there may just be a tiny point in its place. The multi-colored form larva have red thoracic legs, and a black and red head capsule. The green form may have white splotches surrounding the spiracles.
Picture
(C) Teá Montagna
Picture
Picture
Host Plants:
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The gallery to the left contains photos of Eumorpha fasciatus 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 Eumorpha fasciatus larval and pupal stages. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.
(C) Ray Simpson
(C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
(C) Ken Childs
(C) Ken Childs
(C) Ken Childs
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L3 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L3 (C) Ashley Bosarge
Pupa (C) Kimberlie Sasan
Pupa (C) Kimberlie Sasan
L5 (C) Kimberlie Sasan
L5 (C) Kimberlie Sasan
L4 - (C) Teá Kesting-Handly
(C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L3 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L3 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
(C) Kimberlie Sasan
(C) Kimberlie Sasan
(C) Eric Eaton
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L1 (C) Teá Montagna
L3 (C) Teá Montagna
L3 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
Egg - (C) Teá Montagna
L1 - (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montanga
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
L2 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (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
Manduca occulta
Manduca brontes cubensis
Manduca florestan
Manduca muscosa
Manduca quinquemaculatus
Manduca rustica
Manduca sexta
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
      • Madoryx >
        • Madoryx pseudothyreus
      • Pachylioides >
        • Pachylioides resumens
      • Pachylia >
        • Pachylia ficus
      • Phryxus >
        • Phryxus caicus
      • Perigonia >
        • Perigonia lusca
      • Proserpinus >
        • Proserpinus clarkiae
        • Proserpinus juanita
        • Proserpinus flavofasciata
        • Proserpinus gaurae
        • Proserpinus lucidus
        • Proserpinus terlooii
      • Pseudosphinx >
        • Pseudosphinx tetrio
      • Sphecodina >
        • Sphecodina abbottii
      • Xylophanes >
        • Xylophanes falco
        • Xylophanes libya
        • Xylophanes pluto
        • Xylophanes porcus
        • Xylophanes tersa
    • Smerinthinae >
      • Amorpha >
        • Amorpha juglandis
      • Pachysphinx >
        • Pachysphinx modesta
        • Pachysphinx occidentalis
      • Paonias >
        • Paonias excaecata
        • Paonias myops
        • Paonias astylus
      • Protambulyx >
        • Complex: strigilis-carteri >
          • Protambulyx strigilis
          • Protambulyx carteri
      • Smerinthus >
        • Smerinthus jamaicensis
        • Smerinthus cerisyi
        • Smerinthus astarte
        • Smerinthus ophthalmica
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        • Ceratomia hageni
        • Ceratomia undulosa
        • Ceratomia catalpae
      • Cocytius >
        • Cocytius antaeus
        • Cocytius duponchel
      • Dolba >
        • Dolba hyloeus
      • Isoparce >
        • Isoparce cupressi
      • Lapara >
        • Lapara coniferarum
        • Lapara bombycoides
      • Lintneria >
        • Lintneria eremitus
        • Lintneria istar
        • Lintneria separatus
      • Manduca >
        • Manduca brontes cubensis
        • Manduca jasminearum
        • Manduca muscosa
        • Manduca occulta
        • Manduca florestan
        • Manduca quinquemaculatus
        • Manduca rustica
        • Manduca sexta
      • Neococytius >
        • Neococytius cluentius
      • Paratrea >
        • Paratrea plebeja
      • Sphinx >
        • Sphinx canadensis
        • Sphinx chersis
        • Sphinx dollii
        • Sphinx drupiferarum
        • Sphinx franckii
        • Sphinx kalmiae
        • Sphinx leucophaeata
        • Sphinx luscitiosa
        • Complex: gordius-poecila >
          • Sphinx poecila
          • Sphinx gordius
      • Hyloicus >
        • Hyloicus pinastri
  • Final Instar Larva Key
  • Hostplant Index
  • Parasitoids and Predators
  • Range
  • General Information
  • Sources and Acknowledgements
  • Other Resources
    • Sphingidae Publication Library
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