Twin-spotted sphinx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Twin-spotted sphinx |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Smerinthus
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| Species: |
jamaicensis
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| Synonyms | |
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Smerinthus jamaicensis, the twin-spotted sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
Distribution
It is widely distributed across North America. It has been taken as far north as the Yukon.
Description
It has a wingspan of 1+3⁄4–3+1⁄4 inches (4.5–8.3 cm), with the outer margins of the forewings unevenly scalloped, but with the coastal margin of the hindwings being almost straight. Males have gray with black and white markings on their forewings, while females are yellowish brown with dark brown and white markings.
Both sexes have red hindwings with a pale yellow border. Sometimes a blue patch may appear as a single eyespot or it may be divided by black bands, creating two or three eyespots. Adult moths are nocturnal, but seem to prefer the earlier part hours of the night.
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Smerinthus jamaicensis ♂
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Smerinthus jamaicensis ♂ △
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Smerinthus jamaicensis ♀ △
Biology
The larvae feed on apple (Malus sylvestris), Prunus species (such as plums and peach), ash (Fraxinus), elm (Ulmus), poplar (Populus), birch (Betula), and willow (Salix).
