Paratrea plebeja — Plebian Sphinx

(Fabricius, 1777)

Hodges# 7793

Etymology

Paratrea: Unknown, but possibly based on the Greek para meaning “close or nearby.”

plebeja: Feminine form of plebejus, derived from the Latin plebeius meaning “common people.”

Pronunciation

par-ah-tree-uh plee-beej-uh

Other Common Names

Trumpet Vine Sphinx

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the plebian 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 Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2024-05-09	Washington	Hendrix, Suzanna
2023-05-16	Washington	Hendrix, Suzanna	Adult
2021-08-18	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-07-05	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-07-04	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-06-17	Boone	Jaskula, Jeanette	Adult
2020-08-12	Elkhart	Mitchell, Andrea	Adult
2020-07-13	Wayne	English, Philip	Adult
2020-07-13	Wayne	English, Philip	Adult
2019-07-25	Johnson	Cummings, JoAnne	Adult

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2024-05-09 County: Washington Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna Notes:
Date: 2023-05-16 County: Washington Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-18 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-05 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-04 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-06-17 County: Boone Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-08-12 County: Elkhart Observer: Mitchell, Andrea Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-07-13 County: Wayne Observer: English, Philip Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-07-13 County: Wayne Observer: English, Philip Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-07-25 County: Johnson Observer: Cummings, JoAnne Notes: Adult

Paratrea plebeja Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

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

Floral Associates

Plebeian sphinx caterpillars feed on a small variety of vines and shrubs including trumpetcreeper commonly enough that one of its common names is trumpet vine sphinx. Adults feed on nectar.

Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Order: Lamiales
Bignoniaceae	Bignonia capreolata	crossvine
	Campsis radicans	trumpetcreeper
Oleaceae	Syringa spp.	lilacs
Order: Malpighiales
Passifloraceae	Passiflora	passion flowers
Order: Solanales
Solanaceae	Nicotiana spp.	tobacco