Duval County, Florida
Sphingidae Larva

Manduca sexta, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida,
August 18, 2008, courtesy of Sabrina Carmichael.

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

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Sabrina Carnmichael who found the Manduca sexta larvae depicted top and bottom of this page.

Sabrina writes, August 19, 2008, "My name is Sabrina and I've been having an issue this year with caterpillars eating my tomato plants. The latest are these green ones which I haven't seen before. I live in Jacksonville, Florida out at the Atlantic Beach area. I have found as many as 20 plus on one plant. Attached are some pics of the ones (bottom of page) I did manage to get off the plants. I did look them up and I found that these are supposed to be from Costa Rica. Is it typical to find them here in the states?"

I replied, "They are Manduca sexta caterpillars (note the red horn). This species flies throughout most of the eastern United States all the way to southern Maine. I used to find them on my grandfathers' tomato plants in New Jersey.

"My Duval County Sphingidae checklist is at Duval County Sphingidae. You can see adult moths and read more about them there.

"I have a special request. I would like to make a thumbnail checklist of the Duval County Sphingidae larvae and would like to feature an electronic image by you at the top of the page. Would you please go out and find another one on your tomato plants and take a nice picture of it in natural settting and send the image before you destroy the caterpillar.

"They also fly in Costa Rica and in much of South America."

The image Sabrina sent with her reply, "Thank you for the info and I'll check out the website. As you can see it didn't take long for them to consume the plant. Here are the pics," clearly shows how much damage these larvae can do to a tomato plant.

The larvae are scarcely noticeable when they are young, but when they reach the fourth and fifth instars, they can consume tremendous amounts of foliage in a single day. Most of the other Sphingidae species have larvae which are not considered as pests.

Sixty-five Sphingidae species are listed for Florida on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Duval County (Fourteen species are reported on U.S.G.S. as of August 20, 2008. Please do not interpret this as a criticism of the U.S.G.S. data. Their mandate is accuracy; mine is help. Their data from surrounding areas has greatly assisted me in assembling this tentative checklist.) It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the Sphingidae larvae you are likely to encounter.

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

A "USGS" indicates the moth is reported on the USGS 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.

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.

Many thank to Amanda Carta who provides the following image of Isoparce cupressi.

Isoparce cupressi larva, Duval County, Florida,
September 13, 2012, courtesy/copyright Amanda Carta.

Amanda writes, "Yes, you may use my photo for that site with my references as author. If you find any others of mine you would like to use, please let me know. I do have a question though. Well two. Do they make cocoons? If so when can I expect them and where?

I reply, "Thanks for permission to post image. Most of the Sphingidae do not make the cocoons typical of many of the giant silkmoths, Saturniidae. Instead, the Sphingidae larvae either pupate in leaf litter, loosely held together by a few strands of silk, at soil surface, or they excavate subterranean chambers, sometimes six inches or more in depth, and pupate underground.

This larva seems almost mature so you can treat it as per the article about care of found larvae near topof this page. Best of luck.

Many thanks also to Josh Malunas (submitter) and Julie Happy (discoverer/photographer) who provide another beautiful image of an Ispoarce cupressi larva, via Daniel Marlos.

Isoparce cupressi fifth instar, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida,
April 11, 2015, courtesy of Josh Malunas and Julie Happy, via Daniel Marlos.

Visit Duval County, Florida, Adult Sphingidae
Visit Florida Underwing Moths (Catocala).

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

Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent on-line resource.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, WO 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. Very variable! Ceratomia amyntor WO, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). There are both green and brown forms. The four horns near the head are diagnostic. Ceratomia catalpae WO, the Catalpa Sphinx Young caterpillars feed gregariously on Catalpa species (Catalpa bignoniodes and C. speciosa) in the Bignoniaceae family, skeletonizing the foliage. Larvae are mostly white in early instars. Ceratomia undulosa USGS, the Waved Sphinx Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Quercus, Crataegus and Chionanthus virginicus are listed as hosts. In the fifth instar, the spiracular ovals are decidedly red and the anal horn is off-white to pinkish laterally. Dolba hyloeus USGS, the Pawpaw Sphinx Larvae feed on pawpaw (Asimina triloba), littleleaf sweetfern (Myrica aspleniifolia), possum haw (Ilex decidua), and inkberry (Ilex glabra) as well as Tall Gallberry Holly (Ilex coriacea). Louis Handfield reports larvae probably feed on Ilex verticellata in Quebec. Isoparce cupressi USGS/AC/JM&JH, Cypress or Baldcypress Sphinx. Larvae feed on needles of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) at night and pupate in shallow underground burrows where second generation overwinters. Isoparce cupressi, September 13, 2012, Amanda Carta. Isoparce cupressi, Jacksonville, found on the banks of the St. Johns River, April 11, 2015, Josh Malunas &Julie Happy, via Daniel Marlos. Lapara coniferarum USGS, the Southern Pine Sphinx Larvae feed upon various pine species, including loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and longleaf pine (P. pinaster). They are well camouflaged and are without an anal horn. Manduca jasminearum WO, the Ash Sphinx Larvae feed on ash in the Fraxinus genus. Syringa and Ulmus have also been reported. Note the black anal horn. Manduca quinquemaculata 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). Manduca rustica USGS, the Rustic Sphinx The caterpillar has numerous white nodules on top of the thorax and seven pairs of oblique, blue-gray stripes along the side of the body. The horn is white at the base and blue-gray at the tip. Many hosts are utilized. Manduca sexta SC, 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). Manduca sexta, Jacksonville, August 18, 2008, Sabrina Carmichael Paratrea plebeja USGS, the Plebeian Sphinx Preferred hosts are common trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans), Florida yellow-trumpet (Tecoma stans), lilac (Syringa species), and passionflower (Passiflora species). The anal horn is blue, preceded by a yellow dash. Sphinx gordius WO, the Apple Sphinx Larval hosts are apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus). Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, the Walnut Sphinx Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans), hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus), hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya). Paonias astylus WO, the Huckleberry Sphinx Pale green eggs are deposited on hostplants foliage and this sphinx will oviposit readily on the insides of brown paper sandwich or grocery bags. Blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), cherries (Prunus) and willows (Salix) are the favorites as larval foodplants. Paonias excaecata USGS, the Blinded Sphinx Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada. The skin is very granulose. Paonias myops USGS, the Small-eyed Sphinx The larvae depicted is probably third instar. There may be more red spotting on the sides as larvae mature. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries, but are expecially fond of poplars and willows. Red markings on sides vary greatly from specimen to specimen. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx, WO 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 WO, the Alope Sphinx. Larvae have several forms and feed on papaya (Carica papaya), nettlespurge (Jatropha), and allamanda (Allamanda). Hemaris thysbe WO, the Hummingbird Clearwing There is also an orangey-pink prepupal form. The lateral line runs from S1 to the blue horn. Hemaris thysbe larvae feed on viburnum and related plants. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane (Apocynum) and dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Horn is black with a yellow base. southern range limit Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing Larval foods are blueberries including low bush blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans), and laurel (Kalmia), all in the heath family (Ericaceae). 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 fasciatus USGS, the Banded Sphinx Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family. This hornless larva is highly variable. Look for large, dark spiracular circles, a dark line in the center of the back, and seven white oblique stripes. Eumorpha intermedia WO, the Intermediate Sphinx Eumorpha intermedia larvae feed upon peppervine, Ampelopsis arborea. Possibly they will also accept grape (Vitis species), but so far no records of that host have been reported to my knowledge. They like to remain well hidden within tangle of vines and probably feed mostly at night. Eumorpha pandorus WO, the Pandorus Sphinx If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter this species. Note the five large white ovals. There are orangey-brown and green forms also. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis USGS, the Nessus Sphinix In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum). Larvae are green until the final instar. Darapsa choerilus WO, the Azalea Sphinx Larvae feed on Azalea and Viburnum and progress very rapidly. The larva to the left on Viburnum cassinoides is getting ready to pupate. Color change from green to light burgundy-brown indicates pupation is imminent. Darapsa myron USGS, 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. Larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum. Darapsa versicolor WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx Larvae turn a deep chocolate brown just prior to pupation, and the "horn" on the tail also turns downward as pupation draws near. Darapsa versicolor larvae feed on Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), and waterwillow (Decodon verticillatus). Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. The alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back distinguish this larva. southern range limit Hyles lineata WO, 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 guarae WO, the Proud Sphinx Larvae feed on (Onagraceae) including evening primrose (Oenothera), gaura (Gaura), and willow weed (Epilobium). rare Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx Larvae feed at night on grape (Vitis) and ampelopsis (Ampelopsis) and hide on the bark of their host plants during the day. Virginia creeper would also be a suitable host. There is also a dark form without the green patches. Note the "raised eye", replacing the anal horn. Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx Larvae also feed on Borreria, Catalpa and Manettia spp. and Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra) and starclusters (Pentas species). They are also recorded on joe-pie weed and Hamelia patens and on Hedoydis nigricans. The green form may be more common.

Manduca sexta, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida,
August 18, 2008, courtesy of Sabrina Carmichael.

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