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ECOLOGY ▪ EDUCATION ▪ ADVOCACY

Adult in Owen County (Rick Malad)
Underside of an adult — Scott County (Brian Lowry)
Adult with greenish coloration — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Adult with pinkish coloration — Greene County (Nancy Padan)
Adult with rosy coloration — Scott County (Brian Lowry)
Adult with brownish coloration — Fountain County (Carla Frazier)
Front view of adult — Putnam County (Kate Robertson)
Adult antennae closeup — Monroe County (Tracey Setze)
Caterpillar — Floyd County (Hannah Durham)
Final instar caterpillar — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Pupa — Hamilton County (Bobby Avery-Kimball)
An Indiana Native

Darapsa myron — Virginia Creeper Sphinx

(Cramer, 1779)

myron Species Darapsa Genus Macroglossini Tribe Macroglossinae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
myron Species Darapsa Genus Macroglossini Tribe Macroglossinae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7885

Etymology

Darapsa: Unknown, but possibly named for a city of the same name in the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom.

Myron: Was a Greek sculptor of the 5th century whose name was used to mean perfumed oil.

Pronunciation

Duh-ROP-suh MY-ron

Other Common Names

Grapevine Sphinx and Hog Sphinx

Adult in Owen County (Rick Malad)
Underside of an adult — Scott County (Brian Lowry)
Adult with greenish coloration — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Adult with pinkish coloration — Greene County (Nancy Padan)
Adult with rosy coloration — Scott County (Brian Lowry)
Adult with brownish coloration — Fountain County (Carla Frazier)
Front view of adult — Putnam County (Kate Robertson)
Adult antennae closeup — Monroe County (Tracey Setze)
Caterpillar — Floyd County (Hannah Durham)
Final instar caterpillar — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Pupa — Hamilton County (Bobby Avery-Kimball)

Documented Occurrences

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

species present icon GAIN LP
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date County Observer Notes Image1 Image2
2024-07-27 Brown Kohal-Adams, Kim
2024-07-26 Bartholomew Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-07-21 Monroe Worden, Stephanie
2024-07-01 Parke Sherrill, Jenny
2024-06-26 Porter Joll, Chris
2024-06-13 Porter Joll, Chris
2024-06-08 Ripley Jaskula, Jeanette
2024-06-02 Brown Pollock, Michele
2024-05-31 Johnson Mader, Jeff
2023-08-09 Jefferson Wilson, Kayla
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Observation Details Images
Date: 2024-07-27
County: Brown
Observer: Kohal-Adams, Kim
Notes:
Date: 2024-07-26
County: Bartholomew
Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette
Notes:
Date: 2024-07-21
County: Monroe
Observer: Worden, Stephanie
Notes:
Date: 2024-07-01
County: Parke
Observer: Sherrill, Jenny
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-26
County: Porter
Observer: Joll, Chris
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-13
County: Porter
Observer: Joll, Chris
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-08
County: Ripley
Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-02
County: Brown
Observer: Pollock, Michele
Notes:
Date: 2024-05-31
County: Johnson
Observer: Mader, Jeff
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-09
County: Jefferson
Observer: Wilson, Kayla
Notes:
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Darapsa myron Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

Floral Associates

As their name implies, Virginia Creeper Sphinx caterpillars are specialists on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and other members of the grape (Vitaceae) family. Adult moths feed upon nectar.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Vitales
VitaceaeAmpelopsis spp.peppervine, aka porcelainberry
Parthenocissus spp.Virginia creeper and woodbine
Vitis spp.grapes