Lintneria eremitoides
Strecker, 1874
Sage Sphinx
Lintneria eremitoides, known as the sage sphinx, is a hawkmoth in the Sphingidae. It inhabits sandy prairie in the Great Plains of North America. The has two annually and is strongly associated with Salvia plants. are active in spring and late summer, feeding on nectar from deep-throated flowers.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lintneria eremitoides: //lɪntˈnɛɹiə ɛˌɹɛmɪˈtoʊɪdiːz//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Appearance
Medium-sized hawkmoth with wingspan 71–90 mm. Forewings are narrow and elongated, typical of the Sphingidae . Coloration and pattern details are not well documented in available sources.
Habitat
Sandy prairies in the Great Plains region. The shows strong fidelity to this specific open grassland type with well-drained soils.
Distribution
North American Great Plains from Kansas south through central Oklahoma to Texas. Possibly extends west to Colorado and New Mexico. Recorded as a rare stray to western Missouri.
Seasonality
Two per year. on wing April–May and August–September.
Diet
Larvae feed on Salvia . feed on nectar of various deep-throated flowers.
Host Associations
- Salvia - larval food plant-level association; specific Salvia not documented
Life Cycle
(two annually). Complete with , larva, pupa, and stages. Specific details of site and stage are not documented.
Behavior
are or fliers. Has been observed feeding on nectar at deep-throated flowers, suggesting a long adapted for accessing corolla nectar.
Ecological Role
function as of deep-throated flowers. Larvae are herbivores that consume Salvia foliage. Specific ecological impacts are not documented.
Human Relevance
No documented economic or agricultural significance. Of interest to lepidopterists due to its restricted and limited distribution.
Similar Taxa
- Other Lintneria speciesShare -level morphological features; distinguished by geographic range and specificity
- Other Sphingidae in Great PlainsMay overlap in distribution; L. eremitoides distinguished by and Salvia association
More Details
Taxonomic note
The epithet is sometimes misspelled as 'ermitoides' in sources; the correct spelling is 'eremitoides' per original description by Strecker, 1874.
Conservation status
Considered rare with limited observations (13 records in iNaturalist as of source date). specificity to sandy prairies, a declining , may indicate vulnerability.