February 3, 2025

This was once a Mournful Sphinx Moth

But alas, it got trapped in my car

Although I am sad it expired

The photography was easier, by far. 

(I was walking out to the mailbox, and when I passed my car, I saw what appeared to be a weird leaf hanging out of my hatch. Just in case, I went inside and grabbed my camera.  It was in fact this crazy-large moth, but alas, he was expired. But I didn't want it to die in vain so I photographed him to include here on the blog.)

Location:  Fellsmere, my car

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Enyo-lugubris

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

December 27, 2023

I am a male Mournful Sphinx moth

You can tell I'm male cause my tail ends in an anchor

To be scientifically correct, not a tail, it's the end of my abdomen

(I don't want to attract science nerd rancor!)

Special thanks to today's guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Okeechobee, FL

Sources: https://www.sphingidae.us/enyo-lugubris.html

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 28, 2020

Location: Vero Beach, private residence

I am a female Mournful Sphinx moth
I'd have three pointed lobes if I was male.
When I was a caterpillar I ate plants from the grape family
But now my leaf-eating days are curtailed.

Guest Photographer: Heather Stapleton

Sources: Sphingidae of the United States of America - ENYO LUGUBRIS (LINNAEUS, 1771) 

Photo © 2020 Heather Stapleton, text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson