Bug FAQElsa Sphinx
Sagenosoma elsa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sphingidae
Also called: Elsa's Sphinx, Elsa Sphinx Moth
The elsa sphinx moth has forewings that measure about 23 to 38 mm in length. Adults fly from mid-April through mid-August, producing one or two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length ranges from 23 mm to 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars have been recorded feeding on the plant Lycium pallidum.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from mid-April to mid-August, with one or two generations per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight period spans mid-April through mid-August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are elsa sphinx moths active?
Adults fly from mid-April to mid-August, producing one or two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
What do elsa sphinx caterpillars eat?
The larvae have been recorded feeding on Lycium pallidum.
Source: Wikipedia
How big are elsa sphinx moths?
Their forewings measure between 23 mm and 38 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Sphingidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagenosoma
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.