The Sphingidae of Nova Scotia
Sphinx poecila by Bill Oehlke.
In June, 2020, Derek Bridgehouse sends the following image, a new provincial record, from Nova Scotia.
Dolba hyloeus, Nova Scotia, June, 2020, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse,
a new provincial record for Nova Scotia.
Many thanks to Derek for his data and image contributions over the years.
Sphinginae subfamily
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Macroglossinae subfamily
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Eumorpha pandorus final instar, black form, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia,
August 30, 2010, courtesy of Pippa, Chris and Thomas Moss.
"The pictures were taken on the 30th Aug. 2010, at about 3:45 p.m. It proceeded to eat the whole vine leaf and was still there when we left for work the following morning, but had gone when my husband came home that night at about 8 p.m."
The date of the larva find suggest a mid to late July flight time for adult E. pandorus in Nova Scotia.
On October 5, 2011, I received the following image from Anne R. Bangham.
Eumorpha pandorus, Lockeport, Shelburne County, south eastern Nova Scotia,
October 5, 2011, courtesy of Anne R. Bangham.
Eumorpha pandorus final instar on Virginia Creeper, Canning, Nova Scotia,
August 26, 2017, courtesy of Krista Melville.
* Darapsa choerilus is usually classified as Darapsa pholus in older literature.
In June 2010 Chris Majka sends the following email:
"I don't know if you are aware, however, in Ferguson (1955) four additional species of Sphingidae are reported from
Nova Scotia including:
Aellopos tantalus (Linnaeus) – [Sydney from the 1890's; there is some question about this specimen]
"The first two would appear to be non-resident migrants, but Hyles lineata (Fabricius) is a resident species and
the Eumorpha pandorus was found associated with Ampelopsis in NS, so at least that individual seems to have bred here.
"Also Wright (1989) recorded Xylophanes tersa (Linnaeus) on Sable Island; another, a vagrant sub-tropical migrant."
Eumorpha fasciatus (Sulzer) – [Musquodoboit, McNab's Island, Granville Ferry]
Eumorpha pandorus (Hübner) – [Armdale]
Hyles lineata (Fabricius) – [McNab's Island, Digby]
In response to some of my comments, Chris sends additional thoughts.
Chris adds, "I'm sure Aellopos tantalus (Linnaeus), Eumorpha fasciatus (Sulzer), and
Eumorpha pandorus (Hübner) are all irregular vagrants. I don't know if Hyles lineata (Fabricius)
can/does overwinter. Ferguson noted that he examined a number of specimens collected in Digby by John Russell
(his collection is now at the CNC) so there's some indication that it appeared there on a regular basis.
I'm not sure when Russell collected (1930's?) and I'm not aware of recent records in NS, but on the other hand,
I don't know that anyone has looked at sphinx moths in the Digby area for decades."
Nova Scotia counties with some reporting locales.
1) C. undolusa: Many males (around 15) between July 15 and
August 5., 1 female July 10th
2) S. poecila: Many (males and females) on
honeysuckle between July 15 and August 05
3) P. modesta: 3 males (25 – 28 July)
4) S. kalmiae: Many! (hundreds of males, females) on our
Honeysuckle between July 15 and August 09
5) A. Luna (2 males), July 15, 21
6) A. polyphemus (4 males) between July 15 and July 29
7) S. chersis, 1 male (July 22)
8) P. myops, 1 male (July 24)
9) D. choerilus (pholus), 3 males, July 25, 28, August 01
10) S. cerisyi, 7 males, July 15-29
11) Canadian Tiger swallowtail, 1 female July 14
Robert also writes, "In Germany I place the “earth”-caterpillars which are ready to pupate into big plastic containers with approximately 30cm deep soil. I use soil with a very soft riddled (without crumbles) mixture of 50% sand and 50% clay. The soil should be humid but not wet. The caterpillars dig into the soil down to approximately 20 cm below surface and then they make an egg-shaped hollow. Some species cover the hollow with some silk-strings too. Because of the perfect moisture into the hollow, the caterpillars will turn into a perfect pupae with an extremely smooth skin.
"After the caterpillar has turned into a pupa, it will stay in the hollow until eclosion. The pupa definitely does not wiggle to the surface! The full developed moths of the earth pupators are always hatching out in their hollows. Just after they have eclosed, they dig to the surface, probably with using the old tube of the caterpillar. "
I asked Jim Tuttle for his eclosion experience with earth pupators and he writes (August 28, 2005),
"As for the pupal emergence, it has been my experience with Manduca sexta and Citheronia regalis that the pupa works its way
to the surface (head up), stops just as the head breaks the surface of the ground, and then the adult breaks out of the pupal shell.
"I can only assume that the pupa is using the same path that was previously dug by the larva. I dug
emergence pits in my yard, let larva burrow in, let the pupae naturely overwinter, and then monitored the subsequent emergences.
"I cannot speak to any other species... I do know that I decided to take this observation approach because I felt that any observations
in artificial containers might taint the results or my perception of the process.
"Is it possible that the adults of some species eclose in the subterranean chambers and then make their way
to the surface - I guess so..."
Pachysphinx modesta female, Windsor, Nova Scotia, July 28, 2007,
courtesy of Joanne and Corrine Martell.
Agrius cingulata, October 3, 2007, Lunenburg County, N.S.,
courtesy of
Steve Hatt.
Agrius cingulata, White Lakes, Halifax County, Nova Scotia,
September 20, 2012, courtesy of John Gilhen via Derek Bridgehouse.
Agrius cingulata, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia,
September 30, 2012, courtesy of Lorna MacLean.
In Malay Falls/Sheet Harbour area of Halifax County, I (Bill Oehlke) have personally seen Ceratomia undulosa, Lapara bombycoides, Sphinx kalmiae, Sphinx drupiferarum, Sphinx poecila, Pachysphinx modesta, Paonias excaecata, Smerinthus cerisyi, Smerinthus jamaicensis, Hemaris thysbe and Darapsa choerilus (pholus). I suspect the other Nova Scotia species are there as well.
"However, when I was young I had the impression we didn't have them in NS. So I may have seen one and just assumed it was an odd looking cecropia moth."
Darapsa choerilus, June 14, 2008, Gold River, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, courtesy of Steve Hatt.
Derek Bridgehouse sends the following report from Nova Scotia, July 11, for Dollar Lake PP behind airport called Antrim Rd, I believe. "It was a warm eve and heavy mist (almost rain but not quite) from 9:30 -11:30 picked up eight species of Sphinx. But still not getting the two species I'm looking for. So three different locales in different parts of the province and getting same stuff. But the thrill of getting the variety is still there."
P. modesta, Sphinx kalmiae, L. bombycoides, P. myops (2nd of summer), P. excaecatus (1st of the summer), S. jamaicensis (2nd of summer), had a S. cerisyi in Malay Falls which was 1st of season, C. undulosa and D. choerulus.
From Mt. Uniacke, July 8, 2009, Derek Bridgehouse reports, "Sphinx wise got undulosa, bombycoides, kalmae, but the real surprise was getting P. myops."
Derek writes, July 13, 2010: "Bill – I was down to Queens Co
(Mount Merritt Rd., Kempt, Queens Co., NS)
overnite yesterday and got back this aft. I will send you GPS cords (N 44* 07.988; W 65*07.755).
Anyways, I took 9 species of Sphinx (C. undulosa,
L. bombycoides,
Sphinx chersis,
S. kalmiae,
P. modesta,
Paonias excaecata,
P. myops,
Smerinthus cerisyi and S. jamaecensis), 3 species of Catocala and 2 species of Saturniid.
All Hyalophora has now ceased as I have not seen any in 2 weeks. This place I went, however, does have columbia and
cecropia.
"My main find and catch was Sphinx chersis (what a big critter, just not as robust as modesta).
My 3 Catocala sp are badia coelebs, coccinata (what a beauty) and sordida.
"I used a banana-molsasses–rum mix and actually got to witness kalmiae hovering in front of trees like hummingbirds with
proboscis out like a straw slurping up the banana-rum mix from tree trunk.
"I have never seen the sheets so full of moths esp Sphingids – awesome, I can only imagine during saturniid season."
Derek reports a very late Sphinx kalmiae adult, taken at Liscombe Lodge, August 26, 2017.
July 26, 2019: We have had a relatively cool wet spring and summer on PEI, and conditions in Nova Scotia have been similar.
Derek Bridgehouse sends the following report for Friday, July 19, in Mt. Uniacke, Nova Scotia. I was very surprised at the three Saturniidae species
flying this late in the season. If the female luna was laying eggs, I am not sure the larvae would still have edible food on the trees in order to
mature in late September or early October.
"Took a female luna and a male Poly; Surprised too when first time in 12 years going to Mt Uniacke I got a a Sphinx drupiferarum;
Also the all the other regulars:
S. kalimiae;
L. bombycoides;
D. choerilus;
P. modesta;
C. undulosa;
D. rubicundra;
S. poecila."
Visit Nova Scotia Catocala.
Visit Nova Scotia thumbnail checklist: adult moths.
Visit Nova Scotia thumbnail checklist: larvae.
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