Sphingidae

Lintneria eremitus Hermit

10 9 8 n=0 • 7 High Mt. 6 N 5 • • u 4 3 • m 2 • • b 1 • e 0 r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 7 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 f 9 n=8 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 1 - Ashe - 2009-07-06 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 1 - Ashe - 2008-07-03 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Ashe - 2012-07-04 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=0 8 n=0 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: SUBFAMILY: TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: Long a member of the genus Sphinx, this species is now included in along with 4 other species in North America and about 15 from the Neotropics. Larval characters unite the genus.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG, Bugguide, BAMONA TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)

ID COMMENTS: A dark, heavily streaked sphinx . A black triangular patch at the base of the hindwing and two well- developed bands on the hindwing distinguish this species; photographs should show a portion of the hindwings should be sufficient to separate this species from and other species with heavy markings and a pale discal spot on the forewings. Sexes are similar.

DISTRIBUTION: Records from the Piedmont all appear to be historic (from Brimley, 1938). Recent records are all from New River State Park in the northern mountains.

FLIGHT COMMENT: Single brooded in the summer.

HABITAT: Normally found in wooded areas although the foodplants often grow in more open areas such as roadsides, power cuts and old fields. Our records come primarily from riparian habitats.

FOOD: Oligophagous, feeding on a wide range of sage and mint species as well as others in the mint family, .

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Adults visit flowers at dusk but seem to be weakly attracted to lights where they are usually trapped in ones. Wagner (2005) states that males fly early in the evening explaining why light traps are ineffective in monitoring populations of this species.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G4G5 [SU]

STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands

COMMENTS: Very few records exist for North Carolina and even fewer that are current. Possibly undersampled through use of 15 watt UV lightraps. More information is needed on its distribution and habitat affinities before its conservation status can be accurately assessed. Host plants and presumed habitats do not appear to be limiting factors.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1