Inspired by and dedicated to Brian D. Mayer, 2008
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, April 19, 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Simone Meeker (Eumorpha achemon mature larva, September 21, 2017); September 22, 2017

Sphingidae Larval Checklist
San Bernardino County, California

Hyles lineata, Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California,
7000 ft, August 2008, courtesy of Brian D. Mayer

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Brain D. Mayer who sends the Hyles lineata larval images, top and bottom of this page.

Brian writes, "I found your site on Hawk Moths and just love it. I have been fascinated by these moths most of my life. I saw many of them while growing up in south central Texas. I now live in southern California and am amazed by the number I see here as well.

"Can you possibly confirm that this is the larvae of a White-lined Sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)?

"We found it in the Holcomb Valley above Big Bear Lake, Ca. The Valley is at 7000 feet and this was in August 2008."

Many thanks to Simone Marie Meeker who reports an Eumorpha achemon larva feeding on grape foliage, September 21, 2017, in Helendale.

For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta larva, central Texas, August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.

Thirty-two Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for California. Not all of the species are reported by USGS or anticipated in San Bernardino County.

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the Sphingidae larvae you have encountered.

A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in San Bernardino County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth and its larvae are present.

A USGS indicates the moth is reported on the USGS website and/or in Moths of Western North America, #2. Distribution of Sphingidae of Western North America, revised, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

Visit San Bernardino: Sphingidae moths.

Visit California Catocala: Underwing Moths.

Visit checklists for all US states, all Canadian provinces and all countries in North, Central and South America via links at Sphingidae of the Americas

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, USGS, Pink-spotted hawkmoth: Larvae feed on plants in the Convolvulaceae family, especially Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) and in the Solanaceae family, especially (Datura) (jimsonweed) and related plants in the Americas. There is also a brown form. Look for very large, dark spiracular circles. stray

Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth: The caterpillars are called Tomato Hornworms and each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen. Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). There is also a very beautiful brown form. See bottom of page.

Manduca rustica WO , the Rustic Sphinx

Note the green horn, raised white bumps and strong dark lines anterior to the white ones.

Manduca sexta USGS/JC, the Carolina Sphinx

Tobacco Hornworms, equipped with a red-tipped horn at the end of the abdomen, are true gluttons and feed on tobacco and tomato, and occasionally potato and pepper crops and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae).

Sphinx chersis USGS, the Great Ash Sphinx: The larvae are pale bluish green. The head has a pair of yellow lateral bands meeting at the apex.
Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.

Sphinx dollii USGS, the Doll's sphinx

Larval hosts are Alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana) and other juniper species.

It is amazing to me how well the larval spiracular patches and false feet match the pattern and colour of the juniper bark.

Sphinx libocedrus USGS, the Incense Cedar Sphinx

Larvae feed on New Mexican forestiera (Forestiera neomexicana), on Forestiera angustifolia and on little leaf ash (Fraxinus gooddingii) in the Oleaceae family. There are green and dark forms and all larvae tend to darken just before pupation.

Sphinx perelegans USGS, Elegant Sphinx; Unique feature of larva is shield on first thoracic segment, which is of same colour as body and which forms tight-fitting hood over the vertex of head. This hides pair of glossy black spots on top of head, which are revealed if animal is disturbed.

Sphinx sequoiae USGS, the Sequoiae Sphinx:

Larvae feed on California juniper (Juniperus californica) and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. osteosperma).

Sphinx vashti USGS, the Snowberry Sphinx

Larvae feed on the common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and on coralberry (S. orbiculatus).

Note the two golden lines of slightly raised bumps, one just behind the head, the other on the thorax.

generally more northerly

Smerinthini Tribe:

Pachysphinx occidentalis USGS, the Big Poplar Sphinx

Larvae feed on cottonwood and poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix).

Larvae are very chunky with little to distinguish them from Pachysphinx modesta.

Smerinthus ophthalmica WO: Ophthalmica larvae resemble cerisyi larvae, both being pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from head to more pronounced anal diagonal line. Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with pale yellow inverted "V". Note blue horn.

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini Tribe:

Erinnyis crameri, the Cramer's Sphinx, WO

This species is more likely to occur as an occasional stray rather than as a breeding resident.
As a migrant stray it would be seen later in the season, July-August.

Erinnyis ello WO, the Ello Sphinx

Larvae feed on papaya (Carica papaya), Cnidoscolus angustidens, poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), guava (Psidium species) and saffron plum (Bumelia angustifolia/Bumelia celastrina). Manilkara bahamensis, Willow Bustic (Bumelia salicifolia) and Painted Leaf (Poinsettia heterophylla) are also hosts.
Nice socks! Larvae show considerable variation.

Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, USGS
Larvae probably feed on various plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae): Rauvolfia ligustrina, Rauvolfia tetraphylla, Stemmadenia obovata, Philibertia, Cynanchum, and on papaya (Carica papaya, Caricaceae), and Asclepiadaceae.

Hemaris thetis USGS.

Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, high bush cranberry and hawthorn (Crataegus).

Horn is black with a slightly lighter base. This western species was formerly classified as H. diffinis or H. senta. Those species west of the Continental Divide are now classified as H. thetis.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO/SMM, the Achemon Sphinx

Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis). Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown) form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines.

Eumorpha achemon on grapevine, Helendale, September 21, 2017, Simone Marie Meeker

Eumorpha fasciatus USGS, the Banded Sphinx: Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in evening primrose family. Hornless larva is highly variable.

Look for large, dark spiracular circles and dark line in center of back.

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus USGS, the Pacific Green Sphinx Moth or Bear Sphinx

Larvae feed on evening primrose (Oenothera dentata var. campestris) and clarkias. David Wikle fed them on both Mexican evening primrose, Oenothera berlandieri and evening primrose, Oenothera biennis.

Euproserpinus euterpe, the Euterpe Sphinx, WO

Young caterpillars eat flowers, while older caterpillars eat flowers and new leaves. Larvae feed on Camissonia contorta epilobioides in the primrose family (Onagraceae). This species is listed as "threatened" in its known range.

Euproserpinus phaeton, the Phaeton Primrose Sphinx, USGS

Larvae feed on various plants in the primrose family (Onagraceae).

Hyles lineata BDM/,font color=green>USGS, the White-lined Sphinx: Larvae are highly varied and feed on a great diversity of plants including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon), purslane (Portulaca), and Fuschia.
All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines.

Proserpinus clarkiae USGS, Clark's Sphinx,

Larvae feed on elegant fairyfan (Clarkia unguiculata) in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae).

Hyles lineata, Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino County, California,
7000ft, August 2008, courtesy of Brian D. Mayer




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