Sphinx asellus

Rothschild & Jordan, 1903

Asellus Sphinx, asellus sphinx moth

Sphinx asellus is a sphinx moth in the Sphingidae, first described by Rothschild and Jordan in 1903. It inhabits arid woodlands of the southwestern United States, where fly during late spring and early summer. The has a single and larvae feed on manzanita species.

Sphinx asellus by (c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sue Carnahan. Used under a CC-BY license.

Sphinx asellus, male, underside. United States, Arizona, Yavapai, Prescott by The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Sphinx asellus sjh by No machine-readable author provided. Kugamazog~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims).. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.5 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sphinx asellus: /ˈsfɪŋks æˈsɛləs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

The combination of large size (80–99 mm wingspan), in pinyon-juniper woodlands of the southwestern United States, and period from May to July distinguishes this from other sphinx moths in the region. Larvae feed on manzanita (Arctostaphylos), a association not shared by all regional Sphinx species.

Images

Appearance

have a wingspan of 80–99 mm. As a sphinx moth, it has a robust, streamlined body typical of the , with narrow, elongated forewings and shorter hindwings. The body and wing patterning are adapted for camouflage in its woodland .

Habitat

Pinyon-juniper woodland and similar arid environments. The is associated with semi-arid montane and foothill where its larval plants grow.

Distribution

Southwestern United States: Colorado, Nevada, Utah, extreme south-western Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, and south-western Texas.

Seasonality

One per year. are on wing from May to July.

Diet

Larvae feed on manzanita (Arctostaphylos). feeding habits are not documented in available sources.

Host Associations

Arctostaphylos - larval food plantmanzanita

Life Cycle

(one per year). Larvae feed on plants, then pupate. emerge and are active from May to July. Specific details of site and stage are not documented.

Similar Taxa

Sphinx chersisAlso a Sphinx with large size, but associated with ash (Fraxinus) rather than manzanita; ranges overlap in southwestern United States
Sphinx kalmiaeAnother ash-feeding Sphinx ; plant association and potentially similar appearance require careful differentiation
Sphinx drupiferarumWild cherry sphinx with overlapping range; plants (Prunus) differ from manzanita

More Details

Taxonomic note

The name 'asellus' refers to a small crustacean (), though the reason for this epithet in a species is not documented in available sources.

Conservation context

As a feeder on manzanita, this may be vulnerable to changes affecting its plants in southwestern pinyon-juniper .