Hartford County, Connecticut
Sphingidae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Rebecca Gregory who sent sighting/image of Sphinx kalmiae larva from New Britain, July 17, 2006.

Rebecca provided some food and loose soil for the larva, and it pupated as per the image at bottom of this page.

Thirty-seven Sphingidae species are listed for Connecticut on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Hartford County (only nine are reported on U.S.G.S.: Pink-spotted hawkmoth (Agrius cingulata); Pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus); Hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe); Nessus sphinx (Amphion floridensis); Virginia creeper sphinx (Darapsa myron); Hydrangea sphinx (Darapsa versicolor); Bedstraw hawkmoth (Hyles gallii); White-lined sphinx (Hyles lineata) and Tersa sphinx (Xylophanes tersa)). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in your county, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present.

A "USGS" indicates the moth is reported in Lepidoptera of North America, #1. Distribution of Silkmoths (Saturniidae) and Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) of Eastern North America, 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 electronic image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata USGS stray This species has been enountered in Hartford County as a stray from much further south. The moth is a very strong flier and is frequently encountered far north of its usual range. Ceratomia amyntor WO, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is brown with dark brown and white markings including a white costal area near the wing base, dark streaks along the veins, and a white spot in the cell. Ceratomia catalpae WO, the Catalpa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Questionable! Ceratomia undulosa WO, the Waved Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot. Note black and white collar separating thorax from abdomen. Dolba hyloeus USGS, the Pawpaw Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with a dusting of white scales. Some moths have patches of reddish or yellowish brown on the wings. Lapara bombycoides WO, the Northern Pine Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray with heavy black bands. The upperside of the hindwing is brownish gray with no markings. Lapara coniferarum WO, the Southern Pine Sphinx The upperside is of the forewing is gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near the wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. The upperside of the hindwing is a uniform brown-gray. Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx This species is possibly present in Hartford County. The upperside of the forewing is gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. Manduca jasminearum WO the Ash Sphinx The upperside of forewing is gray to grayish brown with a black line running from the middle of the costa to the middle of the outer margin; the line may be broken near the margin. There is a splash of brown around the cell spot. Manduca quinquemaculata WO the Five-spotted Hawkmoth The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Manduca sexta WO, the Carolina Sphinx The abdomen usually has six pairs of yellow bands, broken across the back. The sixth set of markings is quite small. The upperside of the forewing has indistinct black, brown, and white markings. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Paratrea plebeja WO, the Plebeian Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray with indistinct black and white markings. There is a series of black dashes from the base to the tip, and a small white cell spot. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is not officially recorded, but I suspect it is present. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. Sphinx gordius WO, the Apple Sphinx The upperside of the forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. Sphinx kalmiae RG, the Laurel Sphinx This species is now confirmed in Hartford via larva find by Rebecca Gregory. I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered. Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with a faint yellow tint in females. In both sexes, the dark border on the outer margin widens as it approaches the inner margin. The upperside of the hindwing is deep yellow in males, pale yellow in females; both with a wide black border. Sphinx poecila WO, the Poecila Sphinx If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island, but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts, being replaced by Sphinx gordius in southern Connecticut. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, the Walnut Sphinx The adults are also highly variable; sometimes wings of an individual may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have a white or pink tinge. Pachysphinx modesta WO the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Generally found more to the north. Paonias astylus WO, the Huckleberry Sphinx Paonias astylus, the Huckleberry Sphinx (wingspan 55-65 mm), ranges from Maine south to Florida, west to Missouri and Mississippi. It tends to be uncommon. Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Hartford County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Hartford County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, the Cerisyi's Sphinx This is one of the most common Sphingidae on Prince Edward Island. It flies south into the eastern US as far south as northern New Jersey. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common so I suspect it is in Hartford County. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Hemaris thysbe USGS/SF, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is confirmed for Hartford County. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Hemaris thysbe, Glastonbury, July 15, 2010, Susan Franzis. Hemaris gracilis WO, The Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing This day flier is not commonly reported, but may be present. See Hemaris comparison. Hemaris diffinis WO/JL, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth This moth is widely distributed and is probably found in Hartford, confirmed by Janis LaPointe. Hemaris diffinis, Enfield, August 7, 2009, Janis LaPointe. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not officially reported for Hartford, but it is fairly often reported along the coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha pandorus WO, the Pandorus Sphinx If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have this species. I often get asked to identify larvae from areas where they have not previously been reported. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis USGS, the Nessus Sphinix This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus WO, the Azalea Sphinx They are common in New Jersey and common here on Prince Edward Island. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. It is almost certainly present. Darapsa myron USGS, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Hartford County. It is widely reported as far north as southern Maine. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. Darapsa versicolor USGS, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrnagea Sphinx. It has not been widely reported, however, and probably is uncommon. Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx The moth's outer margin of the forewing is deeply scalloped. The upperside is light brown with dark brown markings. There is a small black and white spot near the tip. Hyles gallii USGS, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is reported in Hartford County. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata USGS, the White-lined Sphinx This species is reported in Hartford County. It is a strong migrator from the south, and there are records from the east, west and to the north. Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx This moth is very much under reported. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host. Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however and has been recorded in Hartford County, probably as a non-breeding stray.

Sphinx kalmiae pupa, courtesy of Rebecca Gregory.

The pupa depicted above is very fresh and will darken considerably over the next several days.

Rebecca writes, "I transfered the pupa into a container of paper towels, and once winter draws near I will be placing the container into the crisper container of my fridge unless it proves to be too cold.

"I noticed in the links you sent me that the containers do not have air holes..... will having them damage the pupae, or have any adverse effects? Currentlly the container has them. I discourage airholes as you want some humidity inside the storage container. With air holes, you might lose too much moisture.

"Also how often, if at all, do you change the paper towels in the container?" I check them once a month at best just to make sure paper towels are limp and not dry and stiff. If towelling has dried, I would add a drip or two of water. Everyone's fridge is a bit different. I very seldom, if ever, change paper towels or add any extra moisture to the storage containers.

Rebecca reports the adult moth emerged on August 7, 2006, twenty-days after pupation.

Since there is a chance the pupa will not overwinter, but instead emerge, trying for a second brood, the pupa should initially be stored so that the emergent moth has a place to climb and hang and inflate. Pre-fridge storage container may have airholes, but should have some moisture added, especially if you are running an air conditioner which removes much moisture from the air.

See http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/emerge.htm.

Also see http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/zpupae.htm.

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.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

Show appreciation for this site by clicking on flashing butterfly to the left. The link will take you to a page with links to many insect sites.