Pandora Sphinx

Adult resting — Hamilton County (Erica Lester)

Adult resting — Tippecanoe County (Ron Needham)

Side view of an adult — Elkhart County (Pamela Peterson)

Adult with a quarter for size — Hamilton County (John Molehill)

Green colored caterpillar — Madison County (Skip Powers)

Brown colored caterpillar hosting on Grape vine — LaGrange County (Doug Selzer)

Brown colored caterpillar showing lateral spots — Elkhart County (Carole Mitchell)

Brown colored caterpillar feeding pose — Marion County (Sandra Tipton)

Green colored caterpillar featuring the head spot — Madison County (Skip Powers)

Orange colored caterpillar featuring defensive posture — Fountain County (Carla Frazier)

An Indiana Native

Eumorpha pandorus — Pandora Sphinx

(Hübner, 1821)

Hodges# 7859

Etymology

Eumorpha: Combines the Greek words eu meaning “good” and morpha meaning “shape” or “form.”

Pandorus: Greek word meaning “giving all.” In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first mortal human created by the Gods. Pandorus was a soldier, serving as an Archer, in Homer's Iliaid.

Pronunciation

Yoo-MOR-fuh Pan-DOR-ruh

Other Common Names

Pandorus Sphinx, Camo Moth

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Pandora 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
2022-07-31	Lake	Staniulis, Carrie
2022-07-31	Lake	Staniulis, Carrie
2022-07-31	Lake	Staniulis, Carrie
2022-07-17	Wells	Megan
2022-07-15	St. Joseph	Gunter, Melissa
2021-09-07	Scott	Lowry, Brian
2021-08-18	Boone	Felling, Rachel	Adult
2021-07-24	Newton	Joll, Chris	Adult
2021-07-24	Newton	Joll, Chris	Adult
2021-07-19	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2022-07-31 County: Lake Observer: Staniulis, Carrie Notes:
Date: 2022-07-31 County: Lake Observer: Staniulis, Carrie Notes:
Date: 2022-07-31 County: Lake Observer: Staniulis, Carrie Notes:
Date: 2022-07-17 County: Wells Observer: Megan Notes:
Date: 2022-07-15 County: St. Joseph Observer: Gunter, Melissa Notes:
Date: 2021-09-07 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes:
Date: 2021-08-18 County: Boone Observer: Felling, Rachel Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-24 County: Newton Observer: Joll, Chris Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-24 County: Newton Observer: Joll, Chris Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-19 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult

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Eumorpha pandorus Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

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

Floral Associates

The Pandora Sphinx caterpillar specializes on plants in the Vitaceae family. Adults nectar from flowers.

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