Abbott's Sphinx

Adult at a moth sheet — Owen County (Rick Malad)

Adult side view — Huntington County (Andrea Schwartz)

Adult showing the yellow hindwings — Clark County (Robert Slaton)

Caterpillar early instar — Lake County (Jeanette Jaskula)

Caterpillar intermediate instar — Lake County (Jeanette Jaskula)

Caterpillar in last instar with the green/brown patch pattern — Monroe County (Todd Elliot)

Caterpillar in last instar with the “woodgrain“ pattern — Grant County (Debby Vincent)

An Indiana Native

Sphecodina abbottii — Abbott's Sphinx

(Swainson, 1821)

Hodges# 7870

Etymology

Sphecodina: Unknown

Abbottii: Named for John Abbott (1751-1840), a well known American naturalist who focused on ornithology and entomology.

Pronunciation

Sfec-ODE-in-uh Ah-bot-ee-eye

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Abbott's 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
2021-04-26	Scott	Lowry, Brian	Adult
2021-04-14	Vanderburgh	Morris, Isaac	Adult
2020-08-16	Lake	Whedbee, Jane	Caterpillar
2020-07-14	Porter	Luebbe, Melissa	Caterpillar
2020-06-04	Lake	Halon, Joelle	Adult
2020-06-04	Lake	Halon, Joelle	Adult
2020-06-02	Lake	Halon, Joelle	Adult
2020-05-27	Lake	Welton, Rick	Adult
2020-05-27	Lake	Welton, Rick	Adult
2020-05-27	Lake	Welton, Rick	Adult

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Observation Details	Images
Date: 2021-04-26 County: Scott Observer: Lowry, Brian Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-04-14 County: Vanderburgh Observer: Morris, Isaac Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-08-16 County: Lake Observer: Whedbee, Jane Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2020-07-14 County: Porter Observer: Luebbe, Melissa Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2020-06-04 County: Lake Observer: Halon, Joelle Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-06-04 County: Lake Observer: Halon, Joelle Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-06-02 County: Lake Observer: Halon, Joelle Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-05-27 County: Lake Observer: Welton, Rick Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-05-27 County: Lake Observer: Welton, Rick Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-05-27 County: Lake Observer: Welton, Rick Notes: Adult

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Sphecodina abbottii Sightings by Month

Notes

This moth makes a buzzing noise, mimicking a bee as it feeds which, is thought to be a defensive mechanism to avoid predation.

Conservation Status

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

Floral Associates

Abbott's Sphinx caterpillars are primarily specialists of plants in the Grape (Vitaceae) family, but one source also lists Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) as a host species. Adults nectar from flowers, tree sap, and nutrient puddles.

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Rosales
Rosaceae	Crataegus spp.	hawthorns
Order: Vitales
Vitaceae	Ampelopsis spp.	peppervine, aka porcelainberry
	Parthenocissus spp.	Virginia creeper and woodbine
	Vitis spp.	grapes