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7890 – Xylophanes tersa,
Tersa Sphinx
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Species Pages
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Freshly emerged adult
Final instar larva dark form
Final instar larva green form
Final instar larva dark form
Pupae
General Species Information
Host Plant: Rubiaceae, including Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters (Pentas species), Borreria, Manettia; and Bignoniaceae
Historical Range: Florida, Texas, Caribbean and Central America
Our Experience with this Species: Xylophanes tersa has been a consistantly common species in the Keys. While it us usually not abundant, they are regular in appearance at mercury vaopr lights. We have found them in every month of the year and have been present in almost every location we have surveyed in the Keys.
Notes: Larvae of this species can be a pest to penta flower beds as they will quickly defoliate large bushes but this is moreso something that occurs on the mainland of Florida.
Distribution Chart
K. Largo Marath. Ba. Hond B.P.K. No Name Sck. Isd. K. West
Colored box indicates adult of this species has been confirmed on that island
Adult Flight Chart
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Colored box indicates adult of this species has been confirmed in that month
References
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