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
2019-08-28	Elkhart	Koscielny, Greg	Deceased individual
2019-08-25	Marion	Eirhtug, Susan	Adult
2019-08-25	Fountain	Frazier, Carla	Caterpillar
2019-08-22	Lake	Corriere, Caryn	Caterpillar
2019-08-12	Montgomery	Stauner, Heather	Caterpillar
2019-08-09	Henry	Steussy, Helen	Caterpillar
2019-08-05	Warrick	Baker, Kathi	Adult
2019-08-04	Monroe	Setze, Tracey	Adult
2019-07-28	Putnam	Price, Tina	Caterpillar
2019-07-27	Johnson	Bowman, Megan	Caterpillar (final instar)

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2019-08-28 County: Elkhart Observer: Koscielny, Greg Notes: Deceased individual
Date: 2019-08-25 County: Marion Observer: Eirhtug, Susan Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-25 County: Fountain Observer: Frazier, Carla Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-22 County: Lake Observer: Corriere, Caryn Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-12 County: Montgomery Observer: Stauner, Heather Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-09 County: Henry Observer: Steussy, Helen Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-05 County: Warrick Observer: Baker, Kathi Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-04 County: Monroe Observer: Setze, Tracey Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-07-28 County: Putnam Observer: Price, Tina Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-07-27 County: Johnson Observer: Bowman, Megan Notes: Caterpillar (final instar)

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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