Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 1862198

Tersa Sphinx

Xylophanes tersa

Also known as Tersa Sphinx Moth

With streamlined brown wings trimmed in crisp diagonal stripes, the Tersa Sphinx resembles a miniature jet suspended over evening blooms. Adult moths hover rapidly in front of flowers to sip nectar with a long proboscis during dusk and night hours. Caterpillars display striking eye spots along their sides to intimidate potential predators in garden borders.

NocturnalMothFast-flying
Tersa Sphinx reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Flower nectar
Predators
  • Bats
  • Insectivorous birds
  • Spiders
ThreatsArtificial light pollution, widespread pesticide application
HabitatsGardens, open fields, meadows, forest edges, suburban yards
Life span1–2 months (total life cycle); 1–3 weeks (adult)
Classification
  1. OrderLepidoptera
  2. FamilySphingidae
  3. GenusXylophanes
  4. SpeciesXylophanes tersa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Attracting Adults: Plant nectar-rich evening blooms like pentas, petunias, and honeysuckle.
  • Light Observation: Check near outdoor porch lights shortly after dusk for resting moths.
  • Handling Larvae: Gently move caterpillars with a leaf if relocating them away from pathways.
Related species
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Found in Collections

Species set

Moonlight Marvels

Tersa Sphinx is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.

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