Virginia Creeper Sphinx

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)

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

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).

GAIN LP
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes
2021-06-06	Hamilton	McCord, Dan	Adult
2021-06-06	Harrison	Horton, Jim	Adult
2021-06-05	Montgomery	Coryn, Barbara	Adult
2021-06-02	Lake	Welton, Rick	Adult
2021-06-02	Jefferson	Ricketts, Sarah	Adult
2021-05-28	Monroe	Engbrecht, Nate	Adult
2021-05-28	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-05-28	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-05-25	Jefferson	Leach, Kayla	Adult
2021-05-17	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2021-06-06 County: Hamilton Observer: McCord, Dan Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-06-06 County: Harrison Observer: Horton, Jim Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-06-05 County: Montgomery Observer: Coryn, Barbara Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-06-02 County: Lake Observer: Welton, Rick Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-06-02 County: Jefferson Observer: Ricketts, Sarah Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-28 County: Monroe Observer: Engbrecht, Nate Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-28 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-28 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-25 County: Jefferson Observer: Leach, Kayla Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-05-17 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult

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Darapsa myron Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

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

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.

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