SPHINX ISTAR, THE ISTAR SPHINX

Sphinx Istar by Bruce Walsh.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@pei.sympatico.ca
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 Subfamily: Sphinginae, Latreille, 1802 Tribe: Sphingini, Latreille, 1802 Genus: Sphinx (Linnaeus, 1758) Species: istar, Rothschild& Jordan, 1903........

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DISTRIBUTION:

Sphinx istar, the Istar Sphinx (Wing span: 4 - 4 1/2 inches (10.2 - 11.4 cm)), flies in mountains and pine-oak woodlands from southern Arizona east to South Texas and south to Guatemala. Mexico is the specimen type locality.

The upperside of the forewing is dark gray with brown tinges. A series of narrow dashes runs from the tip to the cell spots, and a wide black band runs from the middle of the outer margin to the base of the wing. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two white bands.

Lintneria istar top, Live Oak County, Texas,
Lintneria separatus bottom, Apache County, Arizona,
courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Sphinx istar adults fly from July-September.

ECLOSION:

Little is known about the eclosions of the earth pupators, but many believe pupae wiggle toward the surface just prior to emergence.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Istar females extend a scent gland from the posterior of the abdomen to lure in the night flying males.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Lintneria (Sphinx) istar or separatus, Ft. Davis, Texas,
October 1, 2005, courtesy of Katherine McMahon.

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