What are the chances of seeing a Lettered Sphinx in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Lettered Sphinx sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 513th most-seen of the 822 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Lettered Sphinx in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
March to May
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Lettered Sphinx in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to February, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Lettered Sphinx?
Between 5 and 8 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Lettered Sphinx sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park the best place to see a Lettered Sphinx?
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Lettered Sphinx sightings, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Point Pelee National Park (Canada, about 10%).
Which relatives of the Lettered Sphinx live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Same family: Sphingidae
The closest relatives of the Lettered Sphinx that you can see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (family Sphingidae, Sphinx Moths) are Virginia Creeper Sphinx (about 10%), Blinded Sphinx (about 10%) and Walnut Sphinx (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Lettered Sphinx sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Lettered Sphinx is recorded against all the insects logged in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (7 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.