Erinnyis obscura — Obscure Sphinx

(Fabricius, 1775)

Hodges# 7837

Etymology

Erinnyis: Named for the Erinyes, the three goddesses of the Underworld. Also called the Furies, they were mythological social justice warriors.

obscura: Latin for “dark or covered.”

Pronunciation

air-ehn-is ob-skihr-uh

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Obscure Sphinx in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2020-10-10	Hamilton	Starling, Keith	Adult
2019-09-20	Brown	Arens, Kathy	Adult male

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2020-10-10 County: Hamilton Observer: Starling, Keith Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-09-20 County: Brown Observer: Arens, Kathy Notes: Adult male

Erinnyis obscura Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

• Global status: G4/G5 (apparently secure/secure)
• National status: N4 (apparently secure)
• Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

Floral Associates

Obscure sphinx caterpillars feed on a narrow range of plants in Indiana including the swallowworts (Cynanchum) spp., angelvine (Gonolobus suberosus), and native spurges (Euphorbia ) spp.

Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Order: Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae	Cynanchum spp.	swallowworts
Order: Asclepiadaceae
Asclepiadaceae	Gonolobus suberosus	angelvine
Order: Malpighiales
Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbia spp.	spurges