Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Ceratomia amyntor, Elm Sphinx, Four-horned Sphinx Tim:
Both brown and green forms and are unmistakeable
due to four horns on the thorax (near the head).
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and
cherry (Prunus).
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Ceratomia catalpae, Catalpa Sphinx:
This caterpillar is one of the few North American Sphingidae that
feed in large groups. Colouration is distinctive. The larvae
are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host.
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Ceratomia hageni, Hagen's Sphinx, Osage Orange Sphinx:
Larvae feed on osage orange (Maclura pomifera), and they have a granulous appearance with variable amounts of purple
along the oblique white stripes.
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Ceratomia undulosa, Waved SphinxTim:
Note the pinkish-orange tail, spiracles outlined in red and the cream
stripes on the head.
The dramatic color change from the dorsal
yellow-green to the lateral light greyish-blue is not always
as intense as in this image.
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Dolba hyloeus, Pawpaw Sphinx:
Note the smooth skin, blue-black horn and small black spiracles.
Pawpaw is the primary host. Littleleaf sweetfern, possum haw,
inkberry, tall gallberry holly and others are also utilized.
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Lapara bombycoides, Northern Pine Sphinx:
Without the anal horn and feeds on pines.
The long stripes and reddish brown afford great camouflage.
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Lintneria eremitus, Hermit Sphinx Tim:
Note triangular bump on the thorax.
Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis),
and sage (Salvia).
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Manduca quinquemaculatus, Five-spotted Hawkmoth:
Note the solid black horn and dark spiracular rings. In addition to the white oblique lines, there are fainter white rings, especially on the back.
I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it.
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Manduca sexta, Carolina Sphinx Tim: Note the red horn and black dots anterior to the white oblique
lines. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it.
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Paratrea plebeja, Plebeian Sphinx:
Feed at night, hiding on nderside of stems during the
day. Common trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans),
Florida yellow-trumpet (Tecoma stans), lilac
(Syringa species), passionflower (Passiflora species).
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Uncommon at lights, not often reported anywhere.
Larval host may be exclusively black ash (Fraxinus nigra).
Variable appearance but always with granulous (darker protrusions) on pinkish horn.
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Sphinx chersis,
Northern Ash Sphinx, Great Ash Sphinx: Pale blue horn, creamy-white stripes on head.
Yellow form has red horn.
Ash, lilac, privet, cherry and quaking aspen.
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Sphinx drupiferarum, Wild Cherry Sphinx:
Larvae hide by day. Cherry, plum, and apple
at night. Amelanchier nantuckensis
in Massachusetts; Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines.
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Sphinx franckii, Franck's Sphinx Moth:
Larvae feed exclusively on various species of ash (Fraxinus).
Raised, pointed bumps, especially near the head and thorax give this
caterpillar a reptilian appearance.
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Sphinx gordius, Apple Sphinx:
Apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica),
Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry
(Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American
larch (Larix laricina), alder (Alnus).
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Sphinx kalmiae, Laurel Sphinx:
In the final instar, the black on the head, lateral lines, horn and on abdominal
legs is diagnostic.Larvae feed primarily on lilac and fringe.
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Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis, Walnut Sphinx Tim:
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, the Blinded Sphinx Tim:
Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries.
I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada.
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Paonias myops, Small-eyed Sphinx Tim:
Wild cherry species are the favorites as larval foodplants, but eggs
will also be deposited on birches and other forest trees.
There are varying degrees in the amount of red markings along the sides.
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Smerinthus jamaicensis, Twin-spotted Sphinx:
Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries,
but are expecially fond of poplars and willows. Red markings on sides
vary greatly from specimen to specimen.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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Hemaris thysbe, Hummingbird Clearwing Tim: Orangey-pink prepupal form. The lateral line runs
from S1 to the blue horn.
Viburnum and related plants.
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Hemaris diffinis, Snowberry Clearwing:
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos),
honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane
(Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
Horn: black; yellow base.
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Philampelini tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon, Achemon Sphinx:
Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper
(Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies
(Ampelopsis). Both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown)
form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines.
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Eumorpha pandorus, the Pandorus Sphinx; BAMONA/Tim:
If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter
this species. Note the five large white ovals (orangey-brown in green form).
There are orangey-brown and green
forms also.
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Macroglossini tribe:
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Amphion floridensis, Nessus Sphinix Tim:
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, Azalea Sphinx Tim:
Azalea, Viburnum; progress very rapidly.
Larva, left, on Viburnum cassinoides is getting ready to
pupate. Color change from green to light burgundy-brown indicates
pupation imminent.
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Darapsa myron, Virginia Creeper Sphinx,
Grapevine Sphinx Tim: If you have foodplants indicated in common names, you probably have myron.
Lower wings: orange.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),
Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, Viburnum.
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Darapsa versicolor, Hydrangea Sphinx:
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens),
buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), waterwillow
(Decodon verticillatus).
Note small head which can be retracted into thorax.
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Deidamia inscriptum, Lettered Sphinx Tim:
Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis),
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus). The alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back distinguish this larva.
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Hyles lineata, White-lined Sphinx:
Highly varied. Willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis),
apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm
(Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon),
purslane (Portulaca), Fuschia.
Red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines.
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Sphecodina abbottii, Abbott's Sphinx Tim:
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. Also dark form
without green patches. Note "raised eye", replacing anal horn.
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