Lesser Ficus Sphinx

Pachylioides resumens · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sphingidae

Also called: False Fig Sphinx Moth

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Lesser Ficus Sphinx
Photo: B. Phalan, CC BY

The Lesser Ficus Sphinx is found from Argentina and Brazil north through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies. Its caterpillars feed on fig species such as Echites umbellata and Ficus carica. Adults fly in several generations throughout the tropical season.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

Adults appear repeatedly throughout the tropical season.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Native range matches the same countries and regions as its habitat.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it is found in the US

Recorded in 2 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida.

Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.

Source: GBIF

More photos

Lesser Ficus Sphinx photo 3
Photo: Jo Roberts, CC BY

Questions people ask

Where is the Lesser Ficus Sphinx found?

It occurs from Argentina and Brazil north through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies.

Source: Wikipedia

When are adult Lesser Ficus Sphinx moths active?

Adults are on wing in several generations throughout the tropical season.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Sphingidae)

White-lined SphinxWhite-lined SphinxHyles lineataDamages trees, gardens or cropsEurasian Hummingbird HawkmothEurasian Hummingbird HawkmothMacroglossum stellatarumSnowberry ClearwingSnowberry ClearwingHemaris diffinisCarolina SphinxCarolina SphinxManduca sextaDamages trees, gardens or cropsHummingbird ClearwingHummingbird ClearwingHemaris thysbeDamages trees, gardens or cropsElephant HawkmothElephant HawkmothDeilephila elpenor

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachylioides

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.

How this page works

This is one bug's fact sheet. The colored box at the top says whether it is dangerous. Sections below cover how to recognize it, whether it is a pest, and how to deal with it. The US map shows which states have records; tap a state to see other bugs there.

Every fact on Bug FAQ comes from a named source (university extension sites, government agencies, GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia). The source is linked next to each section. If we have no source for something, we leave it out.