Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
 |
Agrius cingulata,
WO Pink-spotted hawkmoth,
stray:
Strong migrant; adults nectar from
deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum),
morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera)
petunia (Petunia species).
|
 |
Ceratomia amyntor
WO,
Elm Sphinx; Four-horned Sphinx:
Fw upperside: brown with dark brown and white
markings including white costal area near wing base, dark
streaks along veins, white spot in cell.
Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), cherry (Prunus).
|
 |
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
WO,
Hagen's Sphinx; 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.
generally a more southerly species |
 |
Ceratomia undulosa
BAMONA 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. |
 |
Dolba hyloeus
WO, the 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.
Larve are not limited to pawpaw.
|
 |
Lapara bombycoides
WO, the
Northern Pine Sphinx:
The upperside of the forewing is gray with heavy black bands. The upperside of the hindwing is brownish gray with no markings.
If you have pines, you
might have this species. It flies on P.E.I.
|
 |
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 jasminearum
WO, the Ash Sphinx:
The upperside of forewing is gray to grayish brown with a black line
running from the middle of the costa to the middle of the outer
margin; the line may be broken near the margin. There is a splash of
brown around the cell spot.
|
 |
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
AMK, Carolina Sphinx:
Hw upperside: banded with black and white; has
two black zigzag median lines that are very close together with
hardly any white showing between them.
Larvae can strip a tomato plant.
|
Larvae and adults confirmed by Annette Marie Kiefer, 2021
 |
Neococytius cluentius,
WO Cluentius sphinx,
stray:
Fw upperside: blurry black with orange
markings. Hw upperside: black with orange at
base and orangish yellow patches between veins,
forming a band across wing.
|
 |
Paratrea plebeja
WO, 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, Canadian Sphinx, uncommon, not often reported anywhere,
but it might be present in Cook County.
Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana), blueberry
(Vaccinium). unlikely
|
 |
Sphinx chersis
WO, 9 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. |
 |
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,
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.
|
 |
Sphinx luscitiosa
WO,
the Canadian Sphinx or
Clemen's Sphinx
The upperside of the forewing is yellowish gray in males and pale
gray with a faint yellow tint in females. In both sexes, the dark
border on the outer margin widens as it approaches the inner margin.
|
 |
Sphinx poecila
WO, Poecila Sphinx:
If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the
Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island,
but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
 |
Amorpha juglandis
WO,
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. |
 |
Paonias excaecata
WO, 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. |
 |
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.
|
 |
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, Cerisyi's
Sphinx;r One-eyed Sphinx: Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from late May-July as single brood.
generally more northerly species
|
 |
Smerinthus jamaicensis
WO,
Twin-spotted Sphinx:
This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and it is recorded
in Ingham.
Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini Tribe:
 |
Aellopos titan
WO, Titan Sphinx:
The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen.
The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to above species, but the
upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. stray |
 |
Erinnyis ello
WO, Ello Sphinx:
Abdomen: very distinct gray and black bands. Female's
fw upperside: pale gray with few dark dots near outer
margin. Male's fw upperside: dark gray and brown with
black band running from base to tip. stray
|
 |
Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx,
WO:
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. stray
|
See Hemaris comparison
to help distinguish the next three species.
 |
Hemaris diffinis
BAMONA, Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth:
Flies along forest edges, in meadows, gardens,
brushy fields. Day-flyers nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle,
snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc.
|
 |
Hemaris gracilis
WO,
Slender Clearwing; Graceful Clearwing:
Distinguished from similar species by pair of
red-brown bands on undersides of thorax, which varies from
green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white
underneath. questionable
|
 |
Hemaris thysbe
WO, Hummingbird Clearwing:
This interesting day flier is confirmed for Cook, and is likely common.
They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. |
Philampelini Tribe:
 |
Eumorpha achemon
USGS,
Achemon Sphinx:
This moth 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
BAMONA,
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. |
Macroglossini Tribe:
 |
Amphion floridensis
WO/BEM, 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.
|
 |
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 myron
WO, Virginia Creeper Sphinx;
Grapevine Sphinx:
Probably common.
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 versicolor
WO,
Hydrangea Sphinx:
If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have
Hydrangea Sphinx. However, it probably is uncommon.
|
 |
Deidamia inscriptum
WO,
Lettered Sphinx:
Fw outer margin: deeply scalloped.
Upperside: light brown with dark brown markings.
Small black and white spot near tip.
The upperside of the hindwing is orange-brown with a dark brown
outer margin and median line.
|
 |
Hyles gallii
WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth
or Gallium Sphinx:
This species is confirmed in Cook County.
Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not.
|
 |
Hyles lineata
BAMONA, 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. |
 |
Sphecodina abbottii
WO, 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,
Tersa Sphinx:
The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the
base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout.
|
|
|
