Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Agrius cingulata,
USGS Pink-spotted hawkmoth.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Cocytius antaeus, USGS Giant Sphinx,
Very large larvae. In late instars, larvae are uniform green with dark purple center back line and
very sharp white posterior side slash with some dark green on both sides of it.
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Cocytius duponchel, USGS Duponchel's sphinx,
Colourful larvae, with maroon line down center of apple green back.
Guatteria diospyroides, Annona purpurea, Annona reticulata,
Xylopia frutescens, Custard apple (Annona glabra),
probably other members of Annonaceae family.
rare in Florida
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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.
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Isoparce cupressi
USGS, Cypress or Baldcypress Sphinx.
Larvae feed on needles of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) at night and
pupate in shallow underground burrows where second generation
overwinters.
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Lapara coniferarum
USGS, Southern Pine Sphinx.
Various pine species, including loblolly pine
(Pinus taeda) and longleaf pine (P. pinaster). They are well
camouflaged and are without an anal horn.
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Tomato Hornworms. 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).
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Manduca rustica
USGS, Rustic Sphinx.
Larva has numerous white nodules on top of thorax;
seven pairs of oblique, blue-gray stripes along body side.
Horn white at base, blue-gray at tip. Many hosts utilized.
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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).
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Smerinthini Tribe:
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Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries.
I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada.
The skin is very granulose.
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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.
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Protambulyx strigilis
USGS,
Streaked Sphinx:
Larvae found on Schinus terebinthefolia.
Later instars hide at base of leaf or near base of
tree's trunk when not feeding (all larvae were found on saplings).
Early instar larvae have extremely pointed head capsules; sometimes have difficulty shedding head capsules.
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The brightly coloured caterpillar is easy to find in gardens. The
larva are big and colourful and easily identified.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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Larvae feed on seven year apple, Casasia clusiifolia, and probably
other plants in the madder family. They have been reported on
Indigo-berry (Randia aculeata). |
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Callionima falcifera WO.
The narrow, flattened head of the larva is clearly visible in the lateral view, left below.
It might be in Miami-Dade County as a stray.
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Sorry, no larval image available at this time.
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Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx, USGS
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.
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Erinnyis alope USGS, the Alope Sphinx.
Larvae have several forms and feed on papaya (Carica papaya),
nettlespurge (Jatropha), and allamanda (Allamanda).
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Larvae feed on various plants in the dogbane family
(Apocynaceae): Rauvolfia ligustrina, Rauvolfia tetraphylla,
Stemmadenia obovata. There is also a brown form.
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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.
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Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx,
USGS
Larvae feed on Rauvolfia ligustrina, Rauvolfia tetraphylla,
Stemmadenia obovata, Philibertia, Cynanchum, papaya
(Carica papaya), Asclepiadaceae, Blepharodon mucronatum,
White vine (Sarcostemma clausum) and Morrenia odorata.
rare
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Erinnyis oenotrus, the Oenotrus Sphinx,
USGS
Larvae feed on Forsteronia spicata and other species in the
dogbane family (Apocynaceae). There is also a green form. rare in Florida
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Eupyrrhoglossum sagra
WO, the Cuban Sphinx.
Larvae feed on Guettarda macrosperma and Chomelia spinosa and other species in the Rubiaceae family. In Florida larvae have been found on
Rough Velvetseed (Guettarda scabra)
in the Rubiaceae family. There is also a very dark larval form.
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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.
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Hemaris diffinis
WO,
Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos),
honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane
(Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
Horn black with yellow base.
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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).
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This species is probably limited to Cuba, being replaced by subspecies floridensis in southern Florida and subspecies
bahamensis in the Bahamas.
In Florida larvae have been found on Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans), and they are very similar to
the larva of subspecies Madoryx pseudothyreus bahamensis as well as the nominate subspecies.
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Madoryx pseudothyreus floridensis
, the Floridean False-windowed Sphinx.
Females possibly?? lay eggs on evening primrose
(Onagraceae). In southern Florida Madoryx pseudothyreus floridensis larvae have been found on
Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans). The image to the left is from Florida and represents the subspecies floridensis.
Larvae spin a silken cocoon, affixed to a mangrove branch above ground.
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Pachylia ficus, Fig Sphinx,
USGS.
Females feed and lay eggs on fig leaves, especially Strangler Fig
(Ficus aurea). Ficus carica, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus
religiosa, Ficus pumila, Ficus gamelleira, Ficus prinoides, Ficus
pumila and Artocarpus integrifolia are also listed as
hosts.
The extreme variability of larvae is shown to the left.
The few images that have been sent to me for identification help
are usually as per the upper image.
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Perigonia lusca, the Half-blind Sphinx,
USGS
Larvae have a yellow tail horn, a green body and a dark blue stripe
down the back. There is at least one color morph (depicted). In
Florida, caterpillars eat tawnberry holly
and
rough velvetseed.
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Larvae feed on Mesechites trifida and probably on other
members of the Apocynaceae (Dogbane family: Echites). In Florida
larvae have been reported on mangrove rubber vine (Rhabdadenia
biflora).
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Philampelini tribe:
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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.
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Eumorpha fasciatus
USGS, Banded Sphinx.
Primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose),
plants in evening primrose family. Hornless, highly variable larva.
Look for large, dark spiracular circles and dark
line in center of back. See image at bottom of page.
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Eumorpha labruscae
USGS, the Gaudy Sphinx.
There is a striking resemblance to a snake's head and eye, and a flattening of the thoracic segments when the head is not retracted.
In Florida larvae have been found on Possum Vine (Cissus sicyoides).
Cissus incisa, Cissus verticillata, Eupatorium odoratum, Ludwigia, Magnolia, Parthenocissus and Vitis vinifera are all
reported hosts. |
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Eumorpha pandorus
USGS, 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.
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Eumorpha vitis
USGS,
the Vine Sphinx.
Eumorpha vitis vitis larvae feed upon grape foliage (Vitis) and
other vines (Cissus): Cissus pseudosicyoides
and Cissus rhombifolia and Cissus sicycoides.
I suspect there would be a brown form.
Note five, smooth, narrow, oblique white lines.
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Macroglossini tribe:
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In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis),
ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum).
Larvae are green until the final instar.
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Cautethia grotei
USGS, Grote's Sphinx.
Rare in U.S., but sightings occur (mostly of adult moths)
in east from Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York,
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire. David's milkberry/snowberry (Chiococca alba)
in madder family (Rubiaceae), black torch (Erithalis fruiticosa), Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus).
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Darapsa choerilus
WO, 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. |
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Darapsa myron
USGS, Virginia Creeper Sphinx; 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. |
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Darapsa versicolor
USGS,
Hydrangea Sphinx.
Larvae turn deep chocolate brown just prior to pupation,
"horn" on the tail also turns downward as pupation draws near.
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), buttonbush
(Cephalanthus occidentalis), waterwillow (Decodon verticillatus).
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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. |
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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.
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Milkberry (Chiococca
species), Firebush (Hamelia patens), Indian Mulberry
(Morinda royoc), Erythroxylon species. Three known colour morphs: green, brown, and purple/brown.
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Xylophanes porcus
USGS stray,
Porcus Sphinx.
The upperside of the forewing is olive-brown with lighter brown along
the outer margin. The upperside of the hindwing is brown with some
paler spots.
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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.
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