Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
 |
Agrius cingulata,
WO 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
WO,
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). unlikely |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
|
The upperside of the forewing is a 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.
|
 |
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
WO, 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.
|
 |
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. |
 |
If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter Manduca quinquemaculata.
|
 |
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.
|
 |
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta
in the larval stage.
Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.
|
 | 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.
|
 |
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:
 |
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
remote possibility for Seminole County. |
 |
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. |
 |
Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide
distribution and is probably present in Seminole County.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported
as far south as southern Florida.
|
 |
This moth is widely distributed and fairly common.
Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida.
slight possibility |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
 |
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,
WO/PH
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.
|
Enyo lugubris, October 18, 2007, courtesy of Paul Hueber.
 |
The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with short yellowish
streaks on the forward half and wavy yellowish bands on the rear
half.
|
 |
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.
|
 |
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
|
See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish
the next two species.
 |
Hemaris thysbe
USGS, 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. unlikely
|
 |
Hemaris gracilis
WO, the
Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing
This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in
Seminole County, but it may be present. unlikely
|
Philampelini tribe:
 |
Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper.
Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx.
|
 |
Eumorpha fasciatus
USGS/JG, 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.
|
 |
The Gaudy Sphinx flies in America, and although primarily a tropical
species, it has been taken as far north as Saskatchewan as a stray.
unlikely
|
 |
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. |
 |
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:
 |
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.
|
 |
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
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. |
 |
If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the
Hydrangea Sphinx.
|
 |
Hyles lineata
USGS, the 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.
|
 |
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.
|
 |
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.
|
|
|
