Laurel Sphinx

Laurel Sphinx

Sphinx kalmiae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Cape Breton Highlands National Park

In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%

8 Verified sightings at Cape Breton Highlands National Park From 2019 to 2026
56 In all 5 parks
September Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Laurel Sphinx

Sphinx kalmiae, the laurel sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
2 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
3 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
4 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
5 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Minneapolis [Saint Paul] 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
2 Montreal 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
3 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Laurel Sphinx in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Laurel Sphinx sighting in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 34th most-seen of the 68 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Laurel Sphinx in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

September

In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Laurel Sphinx in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February–June and October–December, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Laurel Sphinx?

Between 1 and 4 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Laurel Sphinx sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Cape Breton Highlands National Park the best place to see a Laurel Sphinx?

Yes

Of the 5 parks where we can rate Laurel Sphinx sightings, Cape Breton Highlands National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Gros Morne National Park (Canada, about 10%) and Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States, about 10%).

Where does the Laurel Sphinx sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Laurel Sphinx is recorded against all the insects logged in Cape Breton Highlands National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Cape Breton Highlands National Park