Sphingicampa bicolor

Spring form adult male — Hamilton County (Dan McCord)

Spring form adult male (side) — Hamilton County (Dan McCord)

Summer form adult male (side)— Monroe County (Tracey Setze)

Summer form adut female — Boone County (Mindy Murdock)

Mating adults — Huntington County (Andrea Schwartz)

Hindwings of a Spring form adult male — Huntington County (Andrea Schwartz)

An Indiana Native

Sphingicampa bicolor — Honey Locust Moth

(Fabricius, 1773)

Hodges# 7709

Etymology

Spingicampa: Combines the Greek Sphingi for “Sphinx” with campa for “caterpillar” — likely a reference to the genera’s caterpillar’s resemblance to those of the sphinx moth family.

Bicolor: The Latin prefix bi for “two” combined with color means “two-colored.”

Pronunciation

sfin-jye-kam-puh bi-kuhl-ur

Synonym

Syssphinx bicolor is an antiquated but still often used synonym.

Adult Size and Description

Wingspan: 45–65 mm (1.8–2.6 in)
Coloration and Patterning:

Hindwings are always mostly or all pinkish-red. Forewings are grayish-brown in spring generation and yellow to peach to orangish-brown in the summer generation. In the southern extent of their range, there is a third-generation with brown forewings.
Forewings variable peppering of brown spots and with 0-2 white discal spots. Area surrounding discal spots often shaded.
If present, the postmedial line is diffused, not perfectly straight, and doesn’t reach the apex.

Sexual Dimorphism:

Females larger than males
Antennae broader on males

Defense Mechanisms:

Crypsis — Spring brood resembles bark. Summer brood coloration presumably resembles the fruit of honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos).
Deimatic display — Flash coloration; when disturbed, moths reveal red hindwings to startle predators.

Range

This map illustrates documented North American records of Sphingicampa bicolor as of 19 February 2021.

Documented record(s)

Conservation Status — NatureServe Rankings

Secure 5: Secure NR: Not ranked

Floral Associates

As their vernacular name implies, Sphingicampa bicolor caterpillars are oligophagous and are only known to feed on two species of trees in Indiana. Adults lack a digestive system, do not eat, and exist solely for reproduction.

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Fabales
Fabaceae	Gleditsia spp.	water and honey locusts
	Gymnocladus dioicus	Kentucky coffeetree

Honey Locust Moth (Sphingicampa bicolor) in Indiana

The map, graph(s), and data below represent the Indiana sightings of Sphingicampa bicolor as of 21 November 2024, confirmed through photographic evidence by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Occurrences by County

Counties recorded: 12 of 92

Top counties/#of records:
Hamilton: 21
Washington: 6
Monroe: 5
Johnson: 5
Jefferson: 4
Huntington: 3
Grant: 2

species present icon GAIN LP documented in county

Sightings by Month

Earliest live adult: Brian Lowry, Hamilton County on 26 April 2021
Latest live adult observation: Suzanna Hendrix, Washington County on 21 August 2023

Total Sightings by Year

Total Number of observations (all years combined): 34
Number of field observers: 15

Sightings by Gender

Image Gallery

The images and records below were all submitted by individuals through the Great American Indiana Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).