Alachua County, Florida, and Nearby Counties:
Clay; Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy; Union
Sphingidae

Eumorpha labruscae, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida,
August 6, 2020, courtesy of Steven Provost.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Steven Provost who provides the Eumorpha labruscae image directly above.

Steven writes, "For what it is worth, I saw this moth on a large bush in the Garden Center yesterday at a Lowes in Gainesville, FL. All plants are supplied to Lowes by various vendors so I suspect this moth may have been on the plant when it was brought to the Garden Center by the vendor rather than having flown in from outside although this is possible as much of the Garden Center is within an enclosed area without any roof. Lyle Buss, Manager, Insect Identification Lab, Entomology & Nematology Dept., University of Florida identified it for me."

I reply, "Thanks for thinking of me. My Florida Sphingidae page is at http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/Sphinx/FLsphinx.htm.

"Lots of possibilities as to how it got there. Sphingidae larvae in most cases excavate subterranean chambers in which to pupate. If garden center sells grape vines, the caterpillar may have been eating the foliage and then pupated in the soil in root container, or it may have flown in. Somewhat tattered appearance suggests, however, that it may have flow in and possibly even came in through a fence.

"Alachua is a bit north of its usual breeding range in southern Florida, but with global warming it may be extending its range. Sometimes hurricane winds also transfer Sphingidae great distances. I wish to post image, credited to you, to an Alachua thumbnail page I will create?"

Sixty Sphingidae species are listed for Florida on the U.S.G.S. website (now BAMONA) as of August 8, 2020. Many of them are tropical strays into the more southerly counties. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Alachua County (none are reported on BAMOSA as of August 8, 2020). 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 Alachua County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present. A "BAMONA" indicates the moth is reported on the BAMONA website and/or 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.

Alachua: Agrius cingulata; Ceratomia amyntor; Ceratomia catalpae; Ceratomia undulosa; Isoparce cupressi; Lapara coniferarum; Manduca jasminearum; Manduca rustica; Manduca sexta; Paratrea plebeja; Amorpha juglandis; Paonias astylus; Paonias excaecata; Paonias myops; Enyo lugubris; Erinnyis alope; Hemaris thysbe; Eumorpha achemon; Eumorpha fasciatus; Eumorpha intermedia; Eumorpha labruscae; Eumorpha pandorus; Amphion floridensis; Darapsa versicolor; Hyles lineata; Xylophanes tersa;

Clay: Lapara coniferarum; Manduca rustica; Amorpha juglandis; Eumorpha fasciatus; Eumorpha pandorus; Deidamia inscriptum; Xylophanes tersa.

Columbia: Eumorpha achemon; Eumorpha fasciatus.

Gilchrist: Xylophanes tersa.

Levy: Lapara coniferarum; Paonias excaecata; Eumorpha achemon; Eumorpha pandorus; Eumorpha vitis; Darapsa myron; Xylophanes tersa.

Union: Paratrea plebeja.

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.

The night-blooming moon flower will attract many Sphingidae at dusk and into the night.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, Alachua Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). Ceratomia amyntor Alachua, 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. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae Alachua, the Catalpa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The cell spot is gray with a black outline. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa Alachua, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is gray with diffuse darker bands. 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. Isoparce cupressi Alachua, the Cypress or Baldcypress Sphinx Isoparce cupressi, the rare Cypress Sphinx, flies in Cypress swamps in Georgia (specimen type locality), and from Maryland to Texas. It has been reported in Mexico. Lapara bombycoides WO, the Northern Pine Sphinx If you have pines, you might have this species. slight possibility Lapara coniferarum Alachua/Clay/Levy 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. If you've got pines in your immediate area, this species is likely present. Manduca jasminearum Alachua, 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. might be present Manduca quinquemaculata WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata. Manduca rustica Alachua/Clay , the Rustic Sphinx Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with a dusting of white scales and zigzagged black and white lines. Manduca sexta Alachua, the Carolina Sphinx If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in the larval stage. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Paratrea plebeja Alachua/Union, 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 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 franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth The costal half of the forewings are grey, but the posterior portion is a distinctive warm yellowish-brown; the boundary between these two areas is marked with a series of dark diagonal streaks. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks the dark bar along the fw inner margin. remote possibility 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. probably uncommon Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis Alachua/Clay, 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. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx They are common on Prince Edward Island, and are slight possibility for Bradford County. Paonias astylus Alachua, the Huckleberry Sphinx Paonias astylus flies from March-September in Florida and from April-September in Louisiana. There is one brood northward from June-August. This appears to be an uncommon species. Paonias excaecata <Alachua/Levy, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution in the eastern United States. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops Alachua, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Bradford 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. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Aellopos tantalus WO, the Tantalus Sphinx The body is reddish brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. The forewing upperside is reddish brown with a black cell spot and 3 white spots near the gray marginal area. A pale streak runs from the cell spot to the inner margin of the wing. Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx, Alachua The body and wings are dark brown. The forewing has a large black patch covering most of the outer half of the wing. There is a pale tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), and a fairly straight median line to the inside of the cell spot. Erinnyis alope Alachua, the Alope Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with short yellowish streaks on the forward half and wavy yellowish bands on the rear half. Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, WO During the night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk. July and August are flight times in the southern states. See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in Jackson County, but it may be present. Hemaris thysbe Alachua, 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. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Adults mimic bumblebees and are quite variable. The wings are basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases and edges. The thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. The abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments before the tip. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon Alachua/font color=8e7014>Columbia/Levy, the Achemon Sphinx Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha fasciatus Alachua/Clay/font color=8e7014>Columbia, the Banded Sphinx The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family. Eumorpha intermedia Alachua, the Intermediate Sphinx The Intermediate Sphinx Moth, (Eumorpha intermedia), (Wing span: 3 9/16 - 3 7/8 inches (9 - 9.8 cm)), flies in lower austral and subtropical lowlands in North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Texas. posibility Eumorpha labruscae Alachua, Steven Provost , the Gaudy Sphinx The Gaudy Sphinx flies in America, and although primarily a tropical species, it has been taken as far north as Saskatchewan as a stray. Forewings are a vibrant grey-green. Eumorpha pandorus Alachua/Clay/Levy, 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 not previously reported. Eumorpha vitis Levy, the Vine Sphinx The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis Alachua, 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. Cautethia grotei WO, the Grote's Sphinx This species is rarely recorded in the U.S., but there are sightings in the east from Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Darapsa choerilus ES, the Azalea Sphinx The lower wings of this hawkmoth are a solid brownish-orange, matching the body colour. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Darapsa myron Levy, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. The lower wings are orange. Darapsa versicolor Alachua, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the Hydrangea Sphinx. Deidamia inscriptum Clay, 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. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. Hyles lineata Alachua, the White-lined Sphinx This species has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records as far north as New Hampshire and Maine. Proserpinus guarae WO, the Proud Sphinx The rare and possibly endangered Proud Sphinx flies from Texas and Louisiana east to northern Florida, north to Alabama, Missouri, northern Georgia, and South Carolina. slight possibility Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx This moth is very much under reported across the United States. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host. Xylophanes pluto WO, the Pluto Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is olive green with a paler median band and pale lines with purple shading along them. The upperside of the hindwing has a white spot surrounded by black at the base, a wide orangish yellow median band, and a brown to greenish band along the outer margin. The head and flared thorax of larva suggest the appearance of a snake. Xylophanes tersa Alachua/Clay/Gilchrist/Levy, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however, and is probably well established in Duval County.

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