Tolland County, Connecticut
Sphingidae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Sue Marriner for her abiding interest in lepidoptera.

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 Tolland County (only seven are reported on U.S.G.S.: Walnut sphinx (Amorpha juglandis), Northern pine sphinx (Lapara bombycoides), Apple sphinx (Sphinx gordius), Clemen's sphinx (Sphinx luscitiosa), Hydrangea sphinx (Darapsa versicolor), Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), Slender clearwing (Hemaris gracilis)). 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 unlikely 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. It might rarely be seen in Tolland County. 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. 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 WO, 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 USGS, 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 Tolland 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 USGS, 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 WO, the Laurel Sphinx The lower forewings are predominantly brownish-yellow with a fairly wide dark bar along the inner margin. At rest the wings hug the body, giving the moth a long slender look. Sphinx luscitiosa USGS, 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 USGS, 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 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. 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. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help determine the next three species. Hemaris thysbe WO, the Hummingbird Clearwing It is not difficult to see why many gardeners would mistake an Hemaris thysbe moth for a small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through a long feeding tube. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Hemaris gracilis USGS, The Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing is distinguished from similar species by a pair of red-brown bands on the sides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. They have a red abdomen and red legs. Hemaris diffinis USGS, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth: Hemaris diffinis is a very variable species, but almost always the abdomen sports contrasting black and yellow hairs, the ventral surface being quite black. The legs also tend to be quite dark and there is a black mask running across the eye and along the sides of the thorax. 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, the White-lined Sphinx 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 possible as a rare stray, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however and has been recorded in nearby Hartford County.

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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