Northern Apple Sphinx (Sphinx poecila) Stephens, 1828 |
Synonyms: Sphinx gordius borealis, Northern Heath Sphinx, Poecila Sphinx, Variegated Sphinx |
Sphinx poecila occurs in the boreal and temperate North America east of the Rocky Mountains; from Alberta to Labrador and Newfoundland, south to Minnesota, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Sphinx gordius. It is found in mixed and deciduous forests, bogs, and barrens. The wingspan is 68-95 mm. The forewing is dark gray with lighter shading, short black streaks, and gray wavy lines. The hindwing is brownish gray with a black median line and a wide black border. Fringes are checkered black and white on the forewing, and white on the hindwing. The larvae feed on foliage of the Rosaceae (Malus, Rosa, and Spirea spp.), Ericaceae (Vaccinium spp.), Betulaceae (Alnus spp.), and, interestingly, White Spruce (Picea glauca), and Tamarack (Larix laricina). Adults nectar from a variety of flowers. One generation per year, from May to September.
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