Nessus Sphinx

Resting Adult — St. Joseph County (Steve Sass)

Adult in flight — Lake County (Rick Welton)

View of an adult from the side — Allen County (Meg Richards)

Close up view of an adult's eye — Allen County (Meg Richards)

Caterpillar feeding on Virginia Creeper (*Parthenocissus quinquefolia*) — Marion County (Jimmy Strathmann)

An Indiana Native

Amphion floridensis — Nessus Sphinx

Clark, 1920

Hodges# 7873

Etymology

Amphion: Rooted in Greek mythology, Amphion was a musician and the son of Zeus and Antiope. Amphion and his twin brother, Zethus, built the city of Thebes with his lyre, which he used to charm the stones into place.

Floridensis: Of or from Florida. The suffix ensis is standard taxonomic nomenclature that indicates the specimen “originated from” the stated area.

Pronunciation

AM-fy-un Flor-uh-den-sis

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the verified sightings of the Nessus 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	Notes
2017-04-14	Orange	Thornton-Anderson, Carol	Adult feeding
2014-07-26	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2014-06-28	St. Joseph	Sass, Steve	Adult feeding at Kankakee Fen Nature Preserve
2014-05-03	Fayette	Sass, Steve	Adult feeding at Mary Gray Nature Preserve

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2017-04-14 County: Orange Observer: Thornton-Anderson, Carol Notes: Adult feeding
Date: 2014-07-26 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2014-06-28 County: St. Joseph Observer: Sass, Steve Notes: Adult feeding at Kankakee Fen Nature Preserve
Date: 2014-05-03 County: Fayette Observer: Sass, Steve Notes: Adult feeding at Mary Gray Nature Preserve

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Amphion floridensis Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

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

Floral Associates

Nessus caterpillars host on several genera of vines and other herbaceous plants host. Adult moths are day-flying feed upon nectar.

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Myrtales
Onagraceae	Epilobium spp.	willowherbs
	Oenothera spp.	primroses
Order: Solinales
Solanaceae	Capsicum spp.	peppers
Order: Vitales
Vitaceae	Ampelopsis spp.	peppervine, aka porcelainberry
	Parthenocissus spp.	Virginia creeper and woodbine
	Vitis spp.	grapes