# Alope Sphinx (*erinnyis alope*) The Alope Sphinx is a fascinating moth that looks like a tiny hummingbird! With its colorful wings, it flits around flowers, sipping nectar and spreading joy. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Alope Sphinx moths are commonly found in gardens, fields, and areas with plenty of flowering plants. - **Also known as:** Erinnyis Moth ![Alope Sphinx](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erinnyis_alope_MHNT_CUT_2010_0_525_Land%C3%A1zuri_Colombia_-_male.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinnyis_alope_MHNT_CUT_2010_0_525_Land%C3%A1zuri_Colombia_-_male.jpg) ## Appearance The Alope Sphinx is a large, robust moth with grayish-brown forewings often marked by a pale diagonal stripe. Its stunning hindwings are bright orange or reddish-orange, dramatically revealed in flight. Its sturdy body tapers to a point. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Sphingidae - **Genus:** Erinnyis ## Interesting facts - Its caterpillar is called 'papaya hornworm' due to its love for papaya leaves! - Many people mistake these lightning-fast moths for hummingbirds darting among flowers. - They find flowers in pitch darkness, relying on their amazing sense of smell! - When disturbed, its caterpillar retracts its head, making it look like a tiny snake! ## Special abilities - **Hovering Flight:** Alope Sphinx can hover perfectly still while feeding, like a hummingbird, thanks to its powerful wings. - **Extra-Long Tongue:** Alope Sphinx has an extra-long, coiled proboscis that helps it reach nectar deep inside tubular flowers. - **Chameleon Camouflage:** The caterpillar can change its body color to blend in with its surroundings, protecting it from predators. - **Surprise Flash:** Alope Sphinx can flash its bright orange hindwings to startle predators when it feels threatened. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-100 mm - **Size:** 30-50 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 40 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink flower nectar; caterpillars feast on plant leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat leaves, while adult moths feed only on nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Papaya leaves (Carica papaya), Frangipani leaves (Plumeria rubra), Other Apocynaceae plants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Papaya](https://www.snappit.app/explore/papaya) (*Carica papaya*) — Its caterpillars munch on the leaves. - **Eats:** [Frangipani](https://www.snappit.app/explore/frangipani) (*Plumeria rubra*) — Its caterpillars often feed on the leaves. - **Eaten by:** Brazilian free-tailed bat (*Tadarida brasiliensis*) — These bats hunt moths in flight at night. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — This bird catches flying insects, including moths. - **Pollinates:** Four o'clock flower (*Mirabilis jalapa*) — Adults visit these flowers for nectar. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Alope Sphinx? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Alope Sphinx's wingspan? 70-100 mm ### How big is Alope Sphinx? 30-50 mm ### How long does Alope Sphinx live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Alope Sphinx fly? 40 km/h ### What does Alope Sphinx eat? Adults drink flower nectar; caterpillars feast on plant leaves. ### Where is Alope Sphinx usually found? Alope Sphinx moths are commonly found in gardens, fields, and areas with plenty of flowering plants. ### How does Alope Sphinx hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [West Lake Underhill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/west-lake-underhill-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Alope Sphinx: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alope-sphinx)