Lintneria eremitus

{{Short description|Species of moth}} {{Speciesbox | name = Hermit sphinx | image = - 7796 – Lintneria eremitus – Hermit Sphinx Moth (35064684844).jpg | image_caption = | taxon = Lintneria eremitus | authority = (Hübner, 1823) | synonyms = *''Sphinx eremitus'' *''Agrius eremitus'' Hübner, 1823 *''Sphinx sordida'' Harris, 1839 *''Sphinx eremitus mccrearyi'' Clark, 1929 }}

'''''Lintneria eremitus''''', the '''hermit sphinx''', is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1823.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae |url=http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Lintneria/eremitus.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723100451/http://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Lintneria/eremitus.html |archive-date=2012-07-23 |access-date=2011-11-01 |publisher=Cate-sphingidae.org}}</ref> It is found in the temperate areas of the eastern United States, north into southern Canada over the Great Plains. It prefers gardens and yards, but is common wherever the nectar and larval host plants are found. This moth is easily confused with the Canadian sphinx (''Sphinx canadensis'') but these two moths do not typically co-occur.

The wingspan is 65–75 mm. There is one generation per year with adults on wing from late June to August. They nectar at deep-throated, light-colored flowers such as phlox (''Phlox'' species) or milkweed (''Asclepias'' species). Adults typically fly at dusk. They are easily attracted to light. <gallery mode=packed> Lintneria eremitus MHNT Cut 2010 0 472 - Quakertown Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA - Male dorsal.jpg|''Lintneria eremitus'' ♂ Lintneria eremitus MHNT Cut 2010 0 472 - Quakertown Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA - Male ventral.jpg|''Lintneria eremitus'' ♂ △ Lintneria eremitus MHNT Cut 2010 0 472 - Scott City, Kansas, USA - Female dorsal.jpg|''Lintneria eremitus'' ♀ Lintneria eremitus MHNT Cut 2010 0 472 - Scott City, Kansas, USA - Female ventral.jpg|''Lintneria eremitus'' ♀ △ </gallery> The larvae feed on many plants in the family Lamiaceae, such as ''Lycopus'', ''Mentha'', ''Monarda'' and ''Salvia'' species. Larvae have green, black, or brown coloration.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Wikispecies}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051113152301/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/usa/1114.htm "Hermit sphinx (''Sphinx eremitus'')"]. ''Moths of North America''. U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Archived November 13, 2005. *{{cite web |last=Fauske |first=Gerald M. |date=January 23, 2007 |url=https://www.ndsu.edu/ndmoths/ndmoths/names/7796.htm |title=''Sphinx eremitus'' (Hübner 1823) |website=Moths of North Dakota |publisher=Department of Entomology North Dakota State University |access-date=December 12, 2020}}

Category:Lintneria Category:Moths described in 1823 Category:Moths of North America Category:Taxa named by Jacob Hübner