Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Agrius cingulata, USGS Pink-spotted hawkmoth.
Plants in Convolvulaceae family, Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato); in Solanaceae family,
especially (Datura) (jimsonweed), related plants. There is also a brown form. Look for very large, dark spiracular circles.
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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. (unlikely, more northerly) |
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Ceratomia catalpae WO, 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.
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Ceratomia undulosa
WO, 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.
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| Cocytius antaeus, WO Giant Sphinx.
Mature caterpillars are very large. In the last instars,
larvae are uniform green with a dark purple center back line and a
very sharp white posterior side slash with some dark green on both
sides of it. (unlikely in larval stage, possible adult stray)
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Dolba hyloeus
USGS, 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, 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.
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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.
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Manduca quinquemaculatus
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).
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Manduca rustica
USGS, the Rustic Sphinx.
Larva has numerous white nodules on top of thorax and
seven pairs of oblique, blue-gray stripes along side of body.
Horn is white at base and blue-gray at tip. Many hosts
are utilized.
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Manduca sexta
USGS, 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).
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Paratrea plebeja
USGS, 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.
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Sphinx gordius
WO, 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).
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Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis WO, Walnut Sphinx.
Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans),
hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus), hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya).
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Paonias excaecata
WO, 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.
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Paonias myops
WO, 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
WO, Streaked Sphinx: Larvae have been found on S. 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 and sometimes have difficulty shedding capsules.
(generally more southerly) |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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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, Alope Sphinx.
Larvae have several forms and feed on papaya (Carica papaya),
nettlespurge (Jatropha), and allamanda (Allamanda).
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Erinnyis ello
USGS, Ello Sphinx.
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,
WO.
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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Hemaris thysbe
USGS, 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 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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Pachylia ficus, the Fig Sphinx,
WO.
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. (unlikely, more southerly)
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Phryxus caicus, the Caicus Sphinx,
USGS.
Larvae feed on Mesechites trifida and probably on other
members of Apocynaceae (Dogbane family: Echites).
Larvae have been reported on mangrove rubber vine (Rhabdadenia
biflora). (unlikely in larval stage, more southerly)
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Philampelini tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon
WO,
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.
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Eumorpha fasciatus
PD/ USGS/SG, 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 and a dark
line in the center of the back.
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Eumorpha fasciatus larva, November 8, 2008, Pete Dunkelberg
Eumorpha fasciatus larva and pupa, Orlando, courtesy of Shay Grech
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Eumorpha intermedia
WO, 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.
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Eumorpha labruscae
WO, Gaudy Sphinx.
Striking resemblance to snake's head and eye, and flattening of
thoracic segments when head is not retracted. Larvae feed on Possum Vine
(Cissus sicyoides).
Cissus incisa, Cissus verticillata, Eupatorium odoratum,
Ludwigia,
Magnolia, Parthenocissus and Vitis vinifera are also
utilized. (unlikely, more southerly)
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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 WO, 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. (unlikely, more southerly)
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Macroglossini tribe:
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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.
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Darapsa choerilus
USGS, 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. |
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Darapsa myron
WO, 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. |
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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).
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Hyles lineata
USGS, 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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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.
(unlikely, more northerly)
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Xylophanes pluto
WO,
the Pluto Sphinx.
Larvae feed on Milkberry (Chiococca
species), Firebush (Hamelia patens), Indian Mulberry
(Morinda royoc) and Erythroxylon species. There are
three known colour morphs: green, brown, and purple/brown. (unlikely, more southerly)
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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.
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