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
2022-05-29	Brown	Pollock, Michele	Adult
2022-05-23	Decatur	Bailey, Tim	Adult
2022-05-22	Putnam	Kirkland, Amber	Adult
2021-08-26	Washington	Hendrix, Suzanna	Adult
2021-08-21	Monroe	Gummer, Christina	Adult
2021-08-18	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-08-08	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-08-08	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-08-07	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-08-05	Brown	Pollock, Michele	Adult

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2022-05-29 County: Brown Observer: Pollock, Michele Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-05-23 County: Decatur Observer: Bailey, Tim Notes: Adult
Date: 2022-05-22 County: Putnam Observer: Kirkland, Amber Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-26 County: Washington Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-21 County: Monroe Observer: Gummer, Christina Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-18 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-08 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-08 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-07 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-05 County: Brown Observer: Pollock, Michele 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