Header1

ECOLOGY ▪ EDUCATION ▪ ADVOCACY

Adult — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Adult — Lake County (Jim Bare)
Adult nectaring — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Side view of an adult — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Close up view of an adult's head — Hancock County (Dylan Martin)
Caterpillar — Scott County (Brian Lowry)
Caterpillar in classic sphinx pose — Porter County (Nathaneal Pilla)
An Indiana Native

Sphinx kalmiae — Laurel Sphinx

J.E. Smith 1797

kalmiae Species Sphinx Genus Sphingini Tribe Sphinginae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
kalmiae Species Sphinx Genus Sphingini Tribe Sphinginae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7809

Etymology

Sphinx: Named for the resemblence of the caterpillars to an Egyptian Sphinx.

Kalmiae: Named for the famous Swedish botanist Pehr (Peter) Kalm who was one of the Apostles of Linnaeus, a group of students approved and chosen by Carl Linnaeus to assist him on zoological and botanical collections throughout the world. Linnaeus eventually named the genus Kalmia, commmonly called Laurels, for Peter Kalm.

Pronunciation

Sfinks Kal-my-ee

Other Common Names

Fawn Sphinx

Adult — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Adult — Lake County (Jim Bare)
Adult nectaring — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Side view of an adult — Porter County (Chris Joll)
Close up view of an adult's head — Hancock County (Dylan Martin)
Caterpillar — Scott County (Brian Lowry)
Caterpillar in classic sphinx pose — Porter County (Nathaneal Pilla)

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Laurel Sphinx in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

species present icon GAIN LP
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date County Observer Notes Image1 Image2
2024-08-24 Monroe Broadwater, Austin AC
2023-08-14 Owen Pettigrew, Laura
2023-08-14 Owen Pettigrew, Laura
2023-07-25 Putnam Burskey, Jake
2022-08-10 Hamilton Starling, Keith
2022-06-23 Strake Lucas, Martin Adult
2021-08-06 Switzerland Lowry, Kelsie Adult
2021-07-29 Monroe Dunaway, Heather Adult
2021-07-28 Hamilton Kant, Nancy Adult
2021-07-28 Hamilton Kant, Nancy Adult
1   2   3   4       Next
Observation Details Images
Date: 2024-08-24
County: Monroe
Observer: Broadwater, Austin
Notes: AC
Date: 2023-08-14
County: Owen
Observer: Pettigrew, Laura
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-14
County: Owen
Observer: Pettigrew, Laura
Notes:
Date: 2023-07-25
County: Putnam
Observer: Burskey, Jake
Notes:
Date: 2022-08-10
County: Hamilton
Observer: Starling, Keith
Notes:
Date: 2022-06-23
County: Strake
Observer: Lucas, Martin
Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-08-06
County: Switzerland
Observer: Lowry, Kelsie
Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-29
County: Monroe
Observer: Dunaway, Heather
Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-28
County: Hamilton
Observer: Kant, Nancy
Notes: Adult
Date: 2021-07-28
County: Hamilton
Observer: Kant, Nancy
Notes: Adult
1   2   3   4       Next

Sphinx kalmiae Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

Floral Associates

Laurel Sphinx caterpillars feed on a variety of trees and shrubs including their namesake Laurels (Kalmia spp.), but they are said to be being particularly fond of plants in the Olive (Oleaceae) family.

Adult moths feed on nectar.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Aquifoliales
AquifoliaceaeIlex spp.hollies
Order: Dipsicales
CaprifoliaceaeDiervilla spp.honeysuckles
Order: Ericales
EricaceaeGaylussacia spp.huckleberries
Kalmia latifioliamountain laurel
Rhododendron spp.azaleas and rhododendrons
Order: Fagales
BetulaceaeBetula spp.birches
Order: Lamiales
OleaceaeChionanthus virginicusfringetree
Fraxinus spp.ashes
Ligustrum spp.privets
Syringa spp.lilacs
Order: Rosales
RosaceaeMalus spp.apples and crabapples
Prunus spp.cherries
Order: Salicales
SalicaceaePopulus spp.poplars