SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Protambulyx strigilis

(Linnaeus, 1771)​

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Common Name(s): Streaked Sphinx

Ecology and Life History Overview: This moth has a very large distribution, essentially from Southern South America all the way north to South Florida and The Caribbean. In Florida, this moth may actually be starting to move northward due to the spread of the invasive Brazilian Peppertree (1, 2). The northernmost records for this species are in Gainesville and St. Augustine Florida(1). The larvae feed on plants in the Anacardiaceae (Cashew Family). There is a lot of confusion regarding this species, and a similar species, Protambulyx carteri (2, 10). In 2007, through rearing, Tuttle synonymized the two species (2). In 2008, another paper was published that undid the synonymization (15). While P. carteri is currently considered valid in its usage, this page will contain P. carteri records and information as well as for P. strigilis. As more information comes to light, and better ways to separate these two species is found, this page will be updated.

Habitat and Searching for Larvae: This moth can be found in most habitats. In Florida, there are records from cities, town parks, the Everglades, and assorted coastal areas (1). Due to the abundance of Brazilian Peppertree in Florida, this moth has become significantly more widespread in the state (1, 2). In fact, most images of larvae from the US have been in this tree. Larvae are fairly easy to find as they rest on the plants during the day. They also brightly fluoresce under UV light.

Rearing Notes: Larvae are easy to rear in captivity. They do not mind being fed cut food, and don’t appear to be cannibalistic in later instars (1). Larvae can also easily be sleeved on plants (2). Larvae can be reared in plastic containers or screen cages. Pupation is easy to induce if you give the larvae several layers of paper towel on top of a slightly damp paper towel (1). The resulting pupae will emerge in 3-6 weeks (1,2) depending on temperature, and are quite sensitive to temperature fluctuation. Too much fluctuation and the adults will not expand their wings properly (1).

Adult description: Adults are medium sized sphingids with forewings 48-55mm in length (2). This moth has the characteristic Smerinthinae look when at rest. The inner margin of the forewing bending slightly, making the forewings narrower toward the body and thicker toward the apex. The maculations of the forewings in this species are varied. The forewing is usually yellow-brown but can also be rusty orange, or some combination of those shades. Forewing maculation varies significantly with some individuals having many black markings on the wing, and some lacking that entirely. The hindwings are also fairly variable with some being more red, others being orange, and some being almost golden. There is a similar amount of maculation variation on the hindwings, though there are usually at least 2 faint black lines. Previously, Protambulyx carteri was the name used for moths that were generally darker, lacked a submarginal line on the dorsal and ventral surfaces, had minimal maculations on the ventral side of the forewings, and had a darker outer margin on the ventral side (10). Protambulyx strigilis was the name used for moths that were often lighter in coloration, have heavily maculated forewings (both dorsally and ventrally), a very distinctive subterminal line (both dorsally and ventrally), and a pale outer margin on the ventral side of the forewings (10).

Picture
(C) Jean Haxaire
Picture
(C) Teá Montagna
Picture
Larval description:

L4: Larvae are very smerinthine like. They are usually green and granulose with several cream/white faded abdominal streaks across each segment. The last abdominal streak is quite thick and large and ends at the caudal horn. In this instar, the caudal horn can be green, green-yellow, or blue and generally sticks straight upward. The horn itself is also granulose in appearance. The head capsule is blue-green or green and there are parallel white streaks that seem to spill over onto the first few thoracic segments.

L5: In the final instar, larvae are not much different than in L4. The larger granulose larvae are still usually green, however there are other color morphs including a blue form, a maculated form (with purple/yellow maculations on it, mostly restricted to the dorsal region, but can cover the larva), and rarely an orange form. The abdominal streaks are still mostly faded and either white, cream, or yellow. The larger last streak is generally white, but in the other color forms it may also be cream or yellow. In the final instar, the horn becomes much more characteristic of the Smerinthinae, and is thicker, quite granulose, and sticks straight backward. The color varies from green to green-blue or green-yellow in most forms, some of the other color morphs may have an entirely yellow, orange-yellow, or orange-red horn. The head capsule remains the same with the two parallel lines, however the color of the head capsule matches the ground color of the larva.

Host plants:
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The gallery to the left contains photos of Protambulyx strigilis adults. The data for each photo can be found by clicking on it. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.

The gallery to the right contains photos of Protambulyx strigilis  larval and pupal stages. The data for each photo can be found by clicking on it. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.
(C) Jean Haxaire
(C) Jean Haxaire
(C) Jean Haxaire
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
(C) Jeir Ortega Galvan
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L4 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa (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 juanita
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

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
        • Callionima parce
      • 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 guttularis
        • 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 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
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        • Smerinthus cerisyi
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        • Cocytius duponchel
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        • 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
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        • Neococytius cluentius
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        • Sphinx chersis
        • Sphinx dollii
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        • Sphinx franckii
        • Sphinx kalmiae
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        • Sphinx luscitiosa
        • Sphinx poecila
        • Sphinx gordius
        • Sphinx pinastri
  • Final Instar Larva Key
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  • Range
  • General Information
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