Proserpinus gaurae

Proserpinus gaurae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Proserpinus
Species: P. gaurae
Binomial name
Proserpinus gaurae
(JE Smith, 1797)[1]
Synonyms
  • Sphinx gaurae J.E. Smith, 1797
  • Proserpinus circae Edwards, 1882
  • Proserpinus deceptiva Barnes & Benjamin, 1924

The Proud Sphinx Moth (Proserpinus gaurae) is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is found from Texas and Louisiana east to northern Florida, north to Alabama, Missouri, northern Georgia and South Carolina. It may range as far south as northern Mexico.[2]

The wingspan is 45–48 mm. The forewing outer margin is distinctly sinuate before the tornus. The labial palps are longer than in any other Proserpinus species and somewhat projecting. The underside of the abdomen is brownish-orange. The forewing underside has no black discal spot. The basal area is chestnut-orange. The hindwing upperside is orange, but washed brownish basally. The marginal band is reddish and the fringe is white with the short scales black. The basal area of the hindwing underside is chestnut-orange.

There are probably one or two generations per year with adults on wing from April to August.

The larvae feed on Oenothera, Gaura and Epilobium species. Full-grown larvae pupate and overwinter in shallow underground burrows.

References

  1. "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  2. "Silkmoths". Silkmoths.bizland.com. Retrieved 2011-10-26.