Inspired/dedicated as per personal communication with Kathleen Hartman (July 27, 2010); July 30, 2010
Updated as per Butterflies and Moths of North America, formerly USGS, July 30, 2010
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, July 30, 2010
Updated as per Richard James image, via Jennifer Carlson (Hyles lineata, Simi Hills, May 12, 2012); May 13, 2012

Sphingidae Larval Checklist
Ventura County, California

Eumorpha achemon feeding on grape,
July 27, 2010, Ventura County, courtesy of Kathleen and David Hartman.

Eumorpha achemon feeding on grape,
July 27, 2010, Ventura County, courtesy of Kathleen and David Hartman.

Eumorpha achemon feeding on grape,
July 27, 2010, Ventura County, courtesy of Kathleen and David Hartman.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Kathleen and David Hartman who took the photos of Eumorpha achemon, top and bottom of this page.

Kathleen sent me the digital images and writes, "These photos were taken by Kathleen & David Hartman, and you are welcome to use them on your site if you like. I do have a question about all of the colors. I don't understand. Are they all different color varieties because of the molting process depending how much time it's been since the last molt? We have all colors on one vine and seemingly all colors in all sizes. Our vine is quickly being defoliated and I believe the hornworms are now tasting the fruit as well. I'd like to control the hornworms (organically if possible) before my grapes and my vine are destroyed. Will parasitic brachonid wasps latch onto this type of hornworm? Thank you for all of the information provided on your site."

I replied, "This species just has a number of colour variations which can occur, all from the original same female moth. The colours have nothing to do with the stage.

"They are attacked by many parasites and predators, but they can also become pests. In some cases it may come down to it's either the caterpillars or the food plant, so you have to decide. You can get an organic spray called Bt for Bacillus thuringiensis which should do them in."

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 Ventura County. Fifteen are reported by USGS as of July 30, 2010.

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 Ventura County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present.

A USGS indicates the moth is reported on the USGS website (now BAMONA 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 also forward your sightings to BAMONA.

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.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, WO, possible stray 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.

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

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 cerisyi USGS, Cerisy's Sphinx; Cerisyi larvae greatly resemble modesta larvae, both being pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from the head to a more pronounced anal diagonal line. Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with a pale yellow inverted "V".

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini Tribe:

Erinnyis crameri, the Cramer's Sphinx, WO, unlikely

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 USGS, 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 USGS, 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, July 27, 2010, Kathleen and David Hartman

Macroglossini Tribe:

Arctonotus lucidus WO, 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, USGS

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, WO

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

Hyles lineata 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.

Hyles lineata, third or fourth instar, on Mirabilis species ('wishbone' or 'four o'clock' type) plant,
Simi Hills, Ventura County, California,
May 12, 2012, Richard James, via Jennifer Carlson.

Proserpinus clarkiae USGS, Clark's Sphinx,

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




Eumorpha achemon feeding on grape,
July 27, 2010, Ventura County, courtesy of Kathleen and David Hartman.

Eumorpha achemon feeding on grape,
July 27, 2010, Ventura County, courtesy of Kathleen and David Hartman.

Eumorpha achemon feeding on grape,
July 27, 2010, Ventura County, courtesy of Kathleen and David Hartman.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

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