Wild Cherry Sphinx

Uncommon in Alberta. No reason for concerns.

Adults have been collected in Alberta in late May and June.

Widespread in eastern North America, from Newfoundland south to Georgia and Arkansas, west to interior BC. It has been collected in east central Alberta, between the Battle and Red Deer Rivers, west to Red Deer and south through Dry Island Provincial Park.

A very large (8.5-11.0 cm wingspan) narrow-winged heavy-bodied moth. The forewings are very dark grey or dull black. The leading edge, particularly the basal two-thirds, is sharply contrasting white or pale grey. The hindwings are black, crossed by a white median band and with a pale grey base and outer margin. The abdomen has a series of large black and white lateral spots. The dark blackish forewings with the contrasting pale leading edge will separate it from all other Alberta sphinx. The similar S. vashti and S. chersis are much paler grey. See also the female of S. luscitiosa.

Dry cherry shrubland and woodland edges.

The adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single brood, which overwinter as pupae.

No Alberta data. Elsewhere reported to use apple (Malus), plum and wild cherries (Prunus sp.), saskatoon (Amelanchier), cranberry (Vaccinium), hackberry (Celtis) and lilac (Syringa).

Sphinx drupiferarum, the wild cherry sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797.