On my way back down Piney Woods Church Road toward home today, I stopped to visit with a neighbor and dear friend. He showed me his native azalea, in full bloom along the side of his house. As we stood there admiring its showy, brilliant orange blossoms and delicate, honeysuckle-like scent, a large moth appeared. I had never seen its kind before; it had brilliant black and yellow banding on its abdomen. Several field guides and a Google search later, I determined that it was a Nessus Sphinx moth (Amphion floridensis). Common throughout the eastern United States, this moth is fairly unusual for being active during the daylight hours, feeding on the nectar of various plants. The caterpillar larva’s host plants include amplelopsis, cayenne pepper, and grapevines. Considering the local habitat offerings, I suspect that it fed on wild grape leaves.
