Fun Banded Sphinx Moth Facts For Kids

The banded sphinx moth was first described by a Swiss physician named Johann Heinrich Sulzer in 1776. They are widely distributed in North America and South Carolina.

It is believed that they have migrated from the North, which is now known as New England. The scientific name for the species is Eumorpha fasciatus and the identification of the adult can be done with two broad white bands on the wings of white color.

The caterpillar is known to have a horn on its head. The hind wings of the adult are distinguished from the forewings as they are brown to pinkish in color.

They feed on host plants or food like Ludwigia leaves, evening primrose, flower nectar, and family plants of Onagraceae. They are highly variable in context to the colors and patterns on their bodies and wings, from being a green larva or caterpillar until an adult.

The pupate is generally found underground in the soil during the winter season, when they are able to retain moisture from the soil. The conservation status of these species is unknown.

The lesser vine sphinx has two subspecies, the first of which is Eumorpha fasciatus fasciatus, and the second is Eumorpha fasciatus tupaci. Kernbach is thought to have discovered the second species in the Galapagos Islands in 1962.

If you really liked reading this article, then do read some interesting and surprising fun facts articles about other species of moths such as the luna moth and the puss moth.

Banded Sphinx Moth Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a banded sphinx moth?

They are beautiful butterflies with white bands on their wings. The moth is also known as the lesser vine sphinx due to its brown-pink color on the hindwings, which give vine shade to the wing. The caterpillars are generally known to feed on Onagraceae family plants and larvae feed on evening primrose, Ludwigia leaves.

What class of animal does a banded sphinx moth belong to?

They belong to the class of Insecta and the order Lepidoptera. They are from the family of Sphingidae and the genus Eumorpha. The main type species of the genus is Eumorpha fasciatus, and two subspecies are named Eumorpha fasciatus fasciatus and Eumorpha fasciatus tupaci.

How many banded sphinx moth are there in the world?

The exact number of these species is unknown and not evaluated as per certain websites.

Where does a banded sphinx moth live?

They are native to North American land and are found in South Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, and New York, etc. They are widely distributed in these areas and are believed to have migrated from the north of New England.

What is a banded sphinx moth's habitat?

The larvae, caterpillars, pupate, and moth butterflies can be seen in a wide range of habitats. Generally, they are found in the tropical, sub-tropical, and austral lowlands.

With each instar stage, they change the place where they live. As larvae and the early stages of caterpillars can be seen on green, dark plant leaves. While in the winter season, pupates are found underground in the soil, and adults are seen flying in the open near dark, shallow-shabby places.

Who do banded sphinx moths live with?

It lives alone and only adults are seen in pairs for the brief period of mating. Even the adult females lay one egg at a time.

How long does a banded sphinx moth live?

The Eumorpha fasciatus has only one life cycle that lasts one year.

How do they reproduce?

There is not much information available in regard to the reproduction cycle. They generally mate during the summer season and pupate during the winter season.

The female lays glued transparent spherical eggs one at a time on the lower surface of the host plant's leaves. However, in general, it can be assumed that they must have also used pheromones in order to attract the male.

From the months of May to July, beautiful butterflies can be seen. From August to November, the larvae and caterpillars are seen, while from November to February, they overwinter under the soil as it pupates.

What is their conservation status?

 The conservation status of Eumorpha fasciatus is unknown worldwide.

Banded Sphinx moth Fun Facts

What does banded sphinx moth look like?

It has four instar stages: larvae, caterpillars, pupate, and moths. Throughout the metamorphosis process, they look different with highly variable colors and patterns on their bodies.

The larvae look green in color, with an elongated body and a horn on their head. The caterpillars are known for their patterned bodies with different colors.

The pupate is black in color, and an adult moth looks beautiful with its thicker body and wide wings. Each wing has a white pattern bands running on the dark background of brown. The hindwings are small and brown to pink in color.

The pink color on the hind wings makes them more beautiful and their identification also becomes easier in this way. Hence, they turn out to be beautiful butterflies.

How cute are they?

The Eumorpha fasciatus is indeed the cutest moth because of their highly variable color. The green larvae are cute, while the caterpillars have a pattern on their bodies that attracts the viewers.

The adult wings are broad with white parallel lines running through them. With such a beautiful pattern and color, the caterpillar, along with the adult moth, passes every level of cuteness.

How do they communicate?

These tan-brown to pinkish-colored moths of the Sphingidae family must communicate with each other by showing certain behavioral gestures and tactile cues. They must also use the chemical smell of each other in order to mate with each other.

How big is a banded sphinx moth?

These moths are 3.4-3.8 in (8.7-9.6 cm) long in length.

How fast can a banded sphinx moth fly?

The exact flying speed is unknown and not evaluated.

How much does a banded sphinx moth weigh?

The weigh of Eumorpha fasciatus, Sulzer (1776), has not been evaluated and is unknown worldwide. Generally, they must be light-weigh.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male and female species of Eumorpha fasciatus are known by their common names, and no specific names are given to either gender.

What would you call a baby banded sphinx moth?

The babies are generally known by their common name, larvae. When they grow a little, they are called caterpillars.

What do they eat?

It is a herbivore. They feed on different host plants, such as Ludwigia leaves, evening primrose, flower nectar, and Onagraceae. The caterpillars leave the host plants to pupate underground in the soil. The adults can generally be seen on flowers sucking the nectar. The larvae feed is mostly the green plants as their food.

Are they poisonous?

No such evidence has been recorded from the adult moths, larvae, or caterpillars to humans, except in the cases of infecting the host plants, if they are planted in your garden area. As there are no records on website pages, the Eumorpha fasciatus must be assumed to be non-poisonous.

Instead, they can be predated by lizards, wasps, and flies such as mayfly and cranefly.

Would they make a good pet?

Though there is not much information available on different website pages, these moths would ideally be a good pet as no such harm has been recorded to humans. They generally work as pests and infect seasonal fruit plants such as grapes.

As they are tiny creatures who go through a lot of metamorphoses and survive maximumly for one year, it is better to leave them in their natural habitat range.

Did you know...

If sphinx moths have infected your garden plants, then you can use insecticides; otherwise, they can be handpicked and thrown away. In Europe and Canada, they are known as hawk moths.

However, if you want to do exactly the opposite of the above, to attract them, you can plant beautiful flowers such as honeysuckle, evening primrose, butterfly bush, and columbine, which are their favorite flower plants. They are also known for their night-blooming. So, you can enjoy their site at night under the beautiful moonlight, creating a positive aura.

The lymantrine moth, scientific name Lymantriinae, is one of the rarest moths in the world.

How many eggs does a sphinx moth lay?

It lays a large number of eggs. The eggs laid might vary from 500-1000. The female lays them on the upper side of the plant leaves such as grapes.

What flowers do sphinx moths like?

It likes flowers that are tube-shaped and filled with nectar. A few of the flowers are datura, honeysuckle, evening primrose, butterfly bush, and columbine.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these prawn interesting facts or king crab fun facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our free printable European lobster coloring pages.