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
2018-08-03	Marion	Lawson, Lori	Adult
2018-08-02	Fountain	Frazier, Carla	Adult
2018-08-01	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2018-07-29	Hamilton	Smith, Amanda	Adult
2018-07-27	Vigo	Padan, Nancy	Adult
2018-07-18	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2018-07-17	Fountain	Frazier, Carla	Adult
2018-07-13	Vanderburgh	Marx, Tamra	Adult
2018-07-10	Marion	Furgason, Bret	Adult
2018-07-09	Porter	Bewick, Becky	Adult

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2018-08-03 County: Marion Observer: Lawson, Lori Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-08-02 County: Fountain Observer: Frazier, Carla Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-08-01 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-07-29 County: Hamilton Observer: Smith, Amanda Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-07-27 County: Vigo Observer: Padan, Nancy Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-07-18 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-07-17 County: Fountain Observer: Frazier, Carla Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-07-13 County: Vanderburgh Observer: Marx, Tamra Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-07-10 County: Marion Observer: Furgason, Bret Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-07-09 County: Porter Observer: Bewick, Becky 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