Insect · GBIF taxon 1863088
Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Darapsa myronAlso known as Green Grapevine Sphinx, Grapevine Sphinx Moth
Virginia creeper sphinx moths glide quietly through summer nights, flashing muted grey-green and olive forewings that blend seamlessly into vine foliage. The distinctive horn-tailed caterpillars sport green or pinkish hues with subtle diagonal side stripes, blending perfectly among grape and Virginia creeper leaves. Adults actively visit deep-throated flowers at dusk, hovering swiftly in place while sipping nectar with a long proboscis.
NocturnalPollinatorCamouflaged
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower Nectar
- Virginia Creeper Leaves
- Grape Leaves
Predators
- Insectivorous Birds
- Bats
- Spiders
ThreatsArtificial night lighting, severe pesticide applications, and host plant loss.
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodland edges, overgrown fence lines, and suburban gardens.
Life span1 to 2 weeks as an adult; several months total including larval stages.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilySphingidae
- GenusDarapsa
- SpeciesDarapsa myron
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Finding Caterpillars: Check the undersides of Virginia creeper and wild grape leaves during midsummer.
- Attracting Adults: Plant nectar-rich native flowers and minimize evening artificial lighting near gardens.
- Nighttime Viewing: Use a red-filtered flashlight to watch adults hovering near flowers without disturbing them.
Co-occurring Sphinx (c) David George, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David George · cc-by
Close Relative (c) CatherineK, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by CatherineK · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) daksu, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Virginia Creeper Sphinx is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
—/7
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.