Bug FAQFalcon Sphinx
Xylophanes falco · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sphingidae
The Falcon Sphinx moth has a wingspan of about 70 to 80 mm (2.8 to 3.1 in). It lives in oak woodlands and along streams from Honduras and Guatemala north through Mexico into southern Arizona and western Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults are paler than Xylophanes monzoni, with a less diffuse pattern and more hooked forewings. The upper side of the forewing is a pale brown-beige from base to tip, with scattered black scales mainly along the leading edge before the discal spot.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures roughly 70 to 80 mm, about 2.8 to 3.1 inches.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is typically found in oak woodland and near streams.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars probably feed on the plant Bouvardia glaberrima.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In Arizona adults fly June through September, while in the tropics they appear continuously.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
In the United States it occurs in southern Arizona and western Texas. Its range continues north through Mexico and further south into Honduras and Guatemala.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
They resemble Xylophanes monzoni but can be told apart by their paler colour, less diffuse pattern, and more falcate forewings.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 3 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, Texas, New Mexico.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult Falcon Sphinx moths active?
In Arizona they fly from June to September; in tropical regions they are active all year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find Falcon Sphinx moths?
They live in oak woodlands and along streams, ranging from Honduras and Guatemala through Mexico into southern Arizona and western Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this moth apart from similar species?
It is paler than Xylophanes monzoni, has a less diffuse wing pattern, and its forewings are more hooked.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Sphingidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylophanes_falco
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.