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Insect Identification > Description of the Tersa Sphinx Moth
 

Details of the Tersa Sphinx Moth

CATEGORY:
Butterfly or Moth

COMMON NAME:
"Tersa Sphinx Moth"

SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Xylophanes tersa)

TAXONOMY:
(View Orders)
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
   Class:Insecta
    Order: Lepidoptera
     Family: Sphingidae
      Genus: Xylophanes
       Species: tersa


CHARACTERISTICS: The large, stiff wings of this moth may give it the appearance of a small bird. Their size and projection at the tip of their abdomen may be intimidating but the are quite harmless.

Adults feed on pollen, though some species of Sphinx moth also eat decaying fruit or tree sap.

Larvae can be either green or brown. Coccoons are usually under leaf litter at the soil's surface.


ADULT SIZE (Length, not including legs):
32mm to 155mm (1.26in to 6.10in) (Compare Size)

IDENTIFYING COLORS: brown; white; cream; black

North American Reach
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas
 
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Picture of Tersa Sphinx Moth
Courtesy of Dave from San Antonio, TX


More Pictures of the Tersa Sphinx Moth:
Pic of the Tersa Sphinx Moth
Images @InsectIdentification.org • Hover over each image to view submission credit

     

 

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