Laurel sphinx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laurel sphinx |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sphinx
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| Species: |
kalmiae
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The laurel sphinx (scientific name: Sphinx kalmiae) is a type of moth. It belongs to the family called Sphingidae, which are often known as hawk-moths or sphinx moths. These moths are usually strong flyers.
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Where the Laurel Sphinx Lives
The laurel sphinx moth lives in the cooler, mild parts of North America. You can find it in the United States and southern Canada. In the eastern parts of these countries, it lives east of the Great Plains. Further north, it can be found west of the Rocky Mountains.
What the Laurel Sphinx Looks Like
The laurel sphinx moth is quite large. Its wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other) is about 75 to 103 millimeters. This is roughly the length of a credit card.
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This is a male laurel sphinx moth seen from above.
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This shows the underside of a male laurel sphinx moth.
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This is a female laurel sphinx moth seen from above.
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This shows the underside of a female laurel sphinx moth.
Life Cycle of the Laurel Sphinx
The laurel sphinx moth goes through different stages in its life. This is called its life cycle. The number of times it completes its life cycle in a year depends on where it lives.
Moth Generations
In Canada, there is usually one generation of moths each year. The adult moths are active in June and July. Further south, in warmer areas, there can be two generations per year. Adults fly from late May to June and again from July to August. In places like Louisiana, there might be as many as six generations in one year.
What the Larvae Eat
The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, feed on certain plants. They like to eat the leaves of Chionanthus (fringe tree), Kalmia (mountain laurel), Syringa (lilac), and Fraxinus (ash tree) species.
The caterpillars have interesting colors. They can be blue-green or yellow-green. They also have seven diagonal lines on their bodies. These lines are white with a black edge on top and are usually yellow underneath.
