Hermit Sphinx
Lintneria eremitus
The caterpillar features a distinct abdominal horn and mimics a dead, curled-up leaf to evade predators.
- Scientific name
- Lintneria eremitus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Sphingidae › Lintneria
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous forest edges, damp meadows, and gardens near larval host plants.
- Diet
- Adults feed on nectar from deep-throated flowers; larvae eat plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae).
- Range
- Eastern North America, Great Lakes Region, Appalachian Mountains
- Size
- Wingspan of 6.5 to 7.5 cm
- Lifespan
- 10-12 months (mostly as pupa; adults live 2-3 weeks)
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, pesticide runoff, and artificial light pollution disrupting nocturnal behaviors.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless to humans. They do not bite, sting, or possess toxic allergens. You can safely observe them at close range. If one rests on your clothing, gently guide it onto a leaf.
Lintneria eremitus , the hermit sphinx , is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1823. It is found in the temperate areas of the eastern United States, north into southern Canada over the Great Plains. It prefers gardens and yards, but is common wherever the nectar and larval host plants are found. This moth is easily confused with the Canadian sphinx ( Sphinx canadensis ) but these two moths do not...
Photo: Randy A Nonenmacher, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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