Pandorus Sphinx Moth

Some of the most beautiful, interesting and hard-working pollinators are rarely seen.  Why? Because they work at night.   One of the members of this night crew is the pandorus sphinx moth.  Found throughout Ohio, this is a large moth with a wingspan of 3 to 4.5 inches.  They have streamlined bodies and wings, their outline looks like a military jet, built for speed and agility.  Their wings are colored in velvety browns and olive greens which are accented with thin streaks of pink.  This coloring allows them to disappear among living and dead leaves.  Although nocturnal, pandorus sphinx may be found resting on walls, walkways and other surfaces during the day.

Preferring night blooming, light colored, nectar-filled tube-shaped flowers, these moths feed on honeysuckle, petunia, bouncing bet, white campion, and phlox.  Like butterflies, the pandorus feeds using its proboscis, a long-coiled tube on the front of its head.  While hovering, they uncoil this tube and use it to reach deep into a flower to feed on its nectar. In the process, pollen sticks to their proboscises and they then carry it to other flowers they feed on.  Even though this method of pollination isn’t as efficient as that performed by bees, the moth doesn’t intentionally collect the pollen and they never land on the flower, the moth is pollinating plants that other insects can’t reach.  The pandorus sphinx is one of three confirmed sphinx moths that pollinate the eastern prairie fringed orchid.  This orchid is currently found in only eight states, with Ohio being one of them, and it is protected under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. The pandorus sphinx is helping to save this species of orchid. 

This moth’s pollination services are contributing to the delicate balance of our ecosystem and to the rich biodiversity of Ohio.   They also contribute by being prey to other animals.  Adult moths are prey to birds and bats and their caterpillars are prey to birds and other insects.  These moths depend on the night to feed, to mate, and to protect their caterpillars as they feed.  Pandorus sphinx moths are drawn to light sources at night.   This is the only time many people will ever see them. Moths drawn to light are not mating and they are not pollinating plants.   Under the light they will die due to increased predation or exhaustion before daylight.  Let’s help these beautiful moths thrive by protecting dark skies so that they can continue to play their critical role in the ecosystem.