Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Agrius cingulata, Pink-spotted hawkmoth.
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). |
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Ceratomia amyntor generally more northerly,
Elm Sphinx; Four-horned Sphinx.
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). unlikely |
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Ceratomia catalpae, Catalpa Sphinx.
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. |
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Ceratomia undulosa, Waved Sphinx.
Pale brownish gray (occasionally dark) with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot.
The upperside of the hindwing is gray with diffuse darker bands. |
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Cocytius antaeus, Giant Sphinx.
Blurry yellowish gray. The upperside of the hindwing is dark gray with yellow at the base and a
dark "tooth" projecting from the margin into the translucent area between each vein. (generally more southerly |
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Dolba hyloeus, 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. |
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Isoparce cupressi
WO, 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. |
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Lapara coniferarum, 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, this species is likely present. |
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Manduca rustica, 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.
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Manduca sexta, 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. |
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Paratrea plebeja, 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. |
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Sphinx chersis, Northern Ash Sphinx; 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. |
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Sphinx gordius, 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. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis, 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. The female is different. |
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Pachysphinx modesta generally more northerly,
the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx. They are common on Prince Edward Island, and are
remote possibility for Hillsborough County. |
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Paonias excaecata, 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 southern Florida. |
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Paonias myops, Small-eyed Sphinx.
Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported
as far south as southern Florida. |
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Smerinthus jamaicensis
generally more northerly, Twin-spotted Sphinx.
This moth is widely distributed and fairly common. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida.
slight possibility |
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Protambulyx strigilis, Streaked Sphinx:
The inner margin of the forewing is indented. Pale yellowish gray in the pale form and reddish brown in
the dark form. Both forms have a distinct submarginal line and a dark
band along the indentation in the inner margin. Listed as carteri on BAMONA.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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Aellopos tantalus stray from further south, 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. |
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Enyo lugubris, Mournful Sphinx. 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, 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. |
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Erinnyis ello, Ello Sphinx. The abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. The female's
forewing upperside is pale gray with a few dark dots near the outer margin. |
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Erinnyis obscura, Obscure Sphinx.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. possibility
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See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish
the next two species.
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Hemaris thysbe, 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. |
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Hemaris diffinis generally more northerly,
Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth.
Mimic bumblebees, quite variable. Wings basically clear, with dark brown to
brownish-orange veins, bases, edges. Thorax golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. Abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2
yellow segments before tip. unlikely |
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Hemaris gracilis,
Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing. This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in
Hillsborough County, but it may be present. |
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Madoryx pseudothyreus, False-windowed Sphinx.
The wing margins are scalloped. The upperside of the forewing is brown with dark brown and tan markings. The forewing has a V-shaped
white spot near the center of the costa. |
Philampelini tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon, Achemon Sphinx.
Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. |
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Eumorpha fasciatus, 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. |
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Eumorpha intermedia, 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. |
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Eumorpha labruscae, 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. |
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Eumorpha pandorus, 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. |
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Eumorpha vitis, 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:
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Amphion floridensis, 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. |
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Darapsa choerilus, 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. |
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Darapsa myron, 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. |
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Darapsa myron pale form, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you might have this
species nearby. The lower wings are pinkish-orange. I was quite surprised by the
pale colouration of this moth. |
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Darapsa versicolor,
the Hydrangea Sphinx. If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the Hydrangea Sphinx. |
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Hyles lineata, White-lined Sphinx.
The forewing upperside is dark olive brown with paler brown along the costa and outer margin, a narrow tan band running from the wing tip
to the base, and white streaks along the veins. |
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Sphecodina abbottii, 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. |
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Xylophanes tersa, Tersa Sphinx.
The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and
has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. This moth is a strong migrant. |
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Xylophanes tersa, June 19, 2015, Meagn Goose.
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