Lee County, southeastern Iowa
Sphingidae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Thomas Jantscher who has sent me the Daraps myron, Hyles lineata and Paonias excaecata images on this page.

Thomas has also sent sighting data for additional species.

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you have encountered.

A WO?" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Lee County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that these moths are present.

Paonias excaecata, Shimek State Forest, Lee County, Iowa,
July 21, 2012, courtesy of Thomas Jantscher.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, WO Pink-spotted hawkmoth, fall migrant: 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/TJ, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx: Fw upperside 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). Ceratomia amyntor, June 22, 2013, Thomas Jantscher Ceratomia catalpae WO, the Catalpa Sphinx 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 and the upperside of the hindwing is yellowish brown with obscure lines. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia hageni TJ, Hagen's Sphinx or Osage Orange Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray with a green tint and has dark indistinct wavy lines, and pale gray patches at the wing tip and along the costa. Ceratomia hageni, Shimek State Forest, May 19, 2012, Thomas Jantscher Ceratomia undulosa WO/TJ, the Waved Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot. Ceratomia undulosa, Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit East, June 22, 2013 Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. Manduca sexta WO/TJ, the Carolina Sphinx The upperside of the hindwing is banded with black and white and has two black zigzag median lines that are very close together with hardly any white showing between them Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Manduca sexta, July 13, 2013; Thomas Jantscher Paratrea plebeja WO, the 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. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might possibly be present in Linn County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). 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. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. Sphinx gordius WO, very questionable in Iowa, the Apple Sphinx Colouration and markings are highly variable from one specimen to another. The fringes on forewing are mostly black with some white; those on the hindwing are mostly white with a few black patches. Sphinx kalmiae WO, the Laurel Sphinx The lower forewings are predominantly brownish-yellow with a fairly wide dark bar along the inner margin. At rest the wings hug the body, giving the moth a long slender look. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO/TJ, the 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. See the file for the female; she is different. Amorpha juglandis, June 22, 2013; Thomas Jantscher Paonias excaecata TJ, the Blinded Sphinx, The outer margin of the forewing is quite wavy. There is a dark cell spot and a dark oblique line mid wing from the costa almost to the inner margin. Basic ground colour is pinkish brown. Flight would be June-July. Paonias excaecata, Shimek State Forest, July 21, 2012, Thomas Jantscher Paonias myops WO/TJ, the Small-eyed Sphinx This small species is probably widespread and common. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. Paonias myops, Shimek S.F., Croton Unit East, June 22, 2013, July 20, 2013; Thomas Jantscher Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, questionable in Lee County, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Questionable, generally more northerly species Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, Twin-spotted Sphinx: This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and is probably present. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Aellopos titan possible stray, the Titan Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. The upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. This species would likely only occur as a fall stray. Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, TJ 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. It would likely only be seen in Iowa as a fall stray. Erinnyis obscura, October 16, 2012, Tom Jantscher. See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next two species. Hemaris diffinis TJ, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth, The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc. Hemaris diffinis, September 3, 2012, Thomas Jantscher Hemaris thysbe WO, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is not confirmed for Marshall. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx I suspect it is present. It is fairly often reported along the east coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha pandorus WO/TJ, the 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 where they have not previously been reported. Eumorpha pandorus, July 13, 2013; Thomas Jantscher Macroglossini Tribe: Amphion floridensis WO, the 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. Darapsa choerilus WO, probably limited to extreme eastern Iowa/TJ, the Azalea Sphinx They are common in New Jersey and common here on Prince Edward Island. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Darapsa choerilus: July 20, 2013; Thomas Jantscher Darapsa myron TJ, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx It is widely reported as far north as southern Maine. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. Darapsa myron, Shimek State Forest, May 19, 2012; gas station, June 8, 9, 2013; Thomas Jantscher Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx The moth's outer margin of the forewing is deeply scalloped. The upperside is light brown with dark brown markings. There is a small black and white spot near the tip. The upperside of the hindwing is orange-brown with a dark brown outer margin and median line. Hyles gallii WO, possibly, but generally more northwesterly, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata TJ, the White-lined Sphinx Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, and at dawn, but they also fly during the day over a wide variety of open habitats including deserts, suburbs, and gardens. Hyles lineata, Keokuk, September 28; October 16, 24, 2012, Thomas Jantscher. 2013: June 8, July 13, September 7, October 2; Thomas Jantscher Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx This moth is very much under reported on USGS. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host. Xylophanes tersa WO/TJ, the Tersa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Xylophanes tersa, July 13, October 2, 2013; Thomas Jantscher

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