Distribution: Ranges from Newfoundland into the prairie provinces of Canada, and from Maine south into Pennsylvania, thence westward through Michigan, northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Overlaps in a portion of the northeast with Sphinx gordius.

Seasonality and Size: One brood from May into September. Wingspan 68-95mm.

Larva and Host Plants: The larva has been found on a wide variety of food plants including larch, apple, blueberries, huckleberries, white spruce, sweetfern, Carolina rose, and alder. See previous page regarding larva.

Field Marks: This is a variable species and, where their ranges overlap, is easily confused in photographs with Spinx gpordius (Apple Sphinx). In well-marked specimens the fringes of the wings offer good clues to identification. In S. gordius the forewing fringes are mostly black with some white, and hindwing fringes are mostly whiye with some black patches. In S. poecila the forewing fringes are checkered black and white, while the hindwing fringes are almost totally white. See pinned specimens below.