Abbott's Sphinx

Adult at a moth sheet — Owen County (Rick Malad)

Adult side view — Huntington County (Andrea Schwartz)

Adult showing the yellow hindwings — Clark County (Robert Slaton)

Caterpillar early instar — Lake County (Jeanette Jaskula)

Caterpillar intermediate instar — Lake County (Jeanette Jaskula)

Caterpillar in last instar with the green/brown patch pattern — Monroe County (Todd Elliot)

Caterpillar in last instar with the “woodgrain“ pattern — Grant County (Debby Vincent)

An Indiana Native

Sphecodina abbottii — Abbott's Sphinx

(Swainson, 1821)

Hodges# 7870

Etymology

Sphecodina: Unknown

Abbottii: Named for John Abbott (1751-1840), a well known American naturalist who focused on ornithology and entomology.

Pronunciation

Sfec-ODE-in-uh Ah-bot-ee-eye

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Abbott's 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
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer
2023-06-14	Hamilton	Kant, Nancy
2023-06-14	Hamilton	Kant, Nancy
2023-06-01	Newton	Jaskula, Jeanette
2023-05-19	Lake	Moore, Chris
2023-05-19	Lake	Moore, Chris
2023-05-19	Lake	Moore, Chris
2023-05-19	Lake	Moore, Chris
2023-05-15	Hamilton	McCord, Dan
2023-05-15	Hamilton	McCord, Dan
2023-04-16	Scott	Lowry, Brian

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2023-06-14 County: Hamilton Observer: Kant, Nancy Notes:
Date: 2023-06-14 County: Hamilton Observer: Kant, Nancy Notes:
Date: 2023-06-01 County: Newton Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes:
Date: 2023-05-19 County: Lake Observer: Moore, Chris Notes:
Date: 2023-05-19 County: Lake Observer: Moore, Chris Notes:
Date: 2023-05-19 County: Lake Observer: Moore, Chris Notes:
Date: 2023-05-19 County: Lake Observer: Moore, Chris Notes:
Date: 2023-05-15 County: Hamilton Observer: McCord, Dan Notes:
Date: 2023-05-15 County: Hamilton Observer: McCord, Dan Notes:
Date: 2023-04-16 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes:

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Sphecodina abbottii Sightings by Month

Notes

This moth makes a buzzing noise, mimicking a bee as it feeds which, is thought to be a defensive mechanism to avoid predation.

Conservation Status

Global status: G5 (secure)
National status: N5 (secure)
Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

Floral Associates

Abbott's Sphinx caterpillars are primarily specialists of plants in the Grape (Vitaceae) family, but one source also lists Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) as a host species. Adults nectar from flowers, tree sap, and nutrient puddles.

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Rosales
Rosaceae	Crataegus spp.	hawthorns
Order: Vitales
Vitaceae	Ampelopsis spp.	peppervine, aka porcelainberry
	Parthenocissus spp.	Virginia creeper and woodbine
	Vitis spp.	grapes