Kebnat
INSECTS

Laurel Sphinx

Sphinx kalmiae

Insects
Native
Laurel Sphinx, Caterpillar
Laurel Sphinx, photo 2 of 5
Laurel Sphinx, photo 3 of 5
75–103 mmWingspan

Butterfly or moth in the family Sphingidae with a wingspan of 75–103 mm. Lives on the coast.

There are 312 observations of Laurel Sphinx in Québec, mostly in Capitale-Nationale, Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Outaouais, and it has been reported in 16 of the 17 regions. They peak in July and become rare from October to May.

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Where to see it

  1. Capitale-Nationale51
  2. Abitibi-Témiscamingue44
  3. Outaouais41
  4. Estrie31
  5. Montérégie30
  6. Laurentides20
  7. Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean17
  8. Chaudière-Appalaches16
  9. Montréal13
  10. Côte-Nord11
  11. Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine10
  12. Bas-Saint-Laurent10
  13. Mauricie8
  14. Lanaudière7
  15. Centre-du-Québec2
  16. Laval1

Habitat

ShorelinePaulparadis

What the caterpillar eats

Common lilacSyringa vulgaris
White ashFraxinus americana
Black ashFraxinus nigra
TOXIC
Sheep laurelKalmia angustifolia
Northern bush-honeysuckleDiervilla lonicera

Similar species

Northern Apple SphinxSphinx poecila
Great Ash SphinxSphinx chersis
Pawpaw SphinxDolba hyloeus
Brown-hooded OwletCucullia convexipennis
Clemens' SphinxSphinx luscitiosa
Five-spotted Hawk MothManduca quinquemaculatus
Waved SphinxCeratomia undulosa
Elm SphinxCeratomia amyntor
Polyphemus MothAntheraea polyphemus
Canadian SphinxSphinx canadensis
Snowberry ClearwingHemaris diffinis
Wild Cherry SphinxSphinx drupiferarum