Sphinx constricta Butler, 1885, Cist. Ent. 3: 113. Type locality: Japan, [Honshu, Kanagawa,] Kashiwagi [Kashiwagaya].
[Further details on this species in Japan, as well as photos of many stages, can be found on Digital Moths of Japan.]
Structurally similar to Sphinx ligustri, but forewings more elongate and angular; pattern similar, but the pink colour less intense. Hindwing upperside with antemedian and median pale bands connected at costal and inner margins, a situation rare in Sphinx ligustri; the bands much less pink.
Japan: 28.iv-2.vi (Hokkaido); 6.vi-12.viii (Honshu); 20.vii-20.viii (Hokkaido).
OVUM: Not recorded.
LARVA: The anal horn in full-grown larvae of this species is totally black and granular. In Sphinx ligustri Linnaeus, 1758 it is yellow and black, more robust, and smooth.
PUPA: Not recorded.
Larval hostplants. Abelia, Enkianthus perulatus, Helwingia japonica, Ilex crenata, Ilex macropoda, Rhododendron, Spiraea salicifolia, Spiraea thunbergii, Viburnum dilatatum and Weigela hortensis.
Tachinidae: Winthemia cruentata (Rondani, 1859).
Japan: Hokkaido (Hakodate; Oshamanbe); Honshu (Sado Island; Kashiwagaya; Shiratani-yama; Onoba; Fujimi Heights; Shimashima Valley; Bushi; Yamakita; Nagoya); Kyushu.
Endemic to Japan, south of southern Hokkaido (Komatsu & Inoko, 2000).
In central and northern Hokkaido, Japan, this species is replaced by Sphinx ligustri.
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