Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Sphingidae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Madeline Champagne who sent me a sighting for Amphion floridensis from Foxboro, June 9, 2009.

Thanks also to Kerri Walonoski who sent me an image of Paonias excaecata from Canton, taken July 31, 2009.

Forty-one Sphingidae species are listed for Massachusetts on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Norfolk County (nineteen species are reported on U.S.G.S. as of June 10, 2009). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in your county, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present. An * indicates the moth is reported in Lepidoptera of North America, #1. Distribution of Silkmoths (Saturniidae) and Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) of Eastern North America, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.

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

Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource.

Visit Norfolk County Sphingidae Larvae: Caterpillars; Hornworms

Visit Massachusetts Catocala: Underwing Moths

If you are travelling, you can find active Sphingidae checklists for all coutries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbbean via the links at North, Central, South American Sphingidae checklists

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata WO stray This species is not recorded in Norfolk County but may appear as a stray from much further south. The moth is a very strong flier and is frequently encountered far north of its usual range. Ceratomia amyntor WO, 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. HW upperside is light brown and has a dark brown band along the outer margin. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). 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. The body is gray, spindle-shaped, and 30-35mm long. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa USGS, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is gray with diffuse darker bands. Some individuals are very dark, almost black, and others are light yellowish brown. Dolba hyloeus USGS, 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. The underside is rather plain. Lapara coniferarum WO, the Southern Pine Sphinx: FW upperside is gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near the wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. HW upperside is a uniform brown-gray. There is also an extensive reddish brown patch in the median area near the forewing inner margin. Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx This species is probably present in Norfolk County. 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. The upperside of the hindwing is mostly black, with gray at the lower margin. Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS the Five-spotted Hawkmoth: Moth abdomen usually has five, sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. FW upperside blurry brown and gray. HW upperside banded with brown and white, has two well-separated median zigzag bands. FW fringes grayish, not distinctly spotted with white. Manduca sexta WO, the Carolina Sphinx: Abdomen usually has six pairs of yellow bands, broken across the back. Sixth set of markings quite small. FW upperside has indistinct black, brown, and white markings. HW upperside banded with black and white, two black zigzag median lines very close together with hardly any white showing between them. Paratrea plebeja WO, the Plebian 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. The upperside of the hindwing is dark gray with an obscure dark median band. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx: FW upperside gray-brown or yellow-gray with black streaks along and between the veins and an interrupted white line along the outer margin. HW upperside black with white bands. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx This species is probably present, but may not be common. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum USGS, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is probably present and would fly in May/June and August. 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, the Apple Sphinx This species is present in Plymouth County. 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 USGS, the Laurel Sphinx This species is not reported in Plymouth, but I suspect it is present. I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered. Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx This one is not reported from Plymouth, but it flies to the south and in western Massachusetts and may be present. Sphinx poecila USGS, the 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, being replaced by Sphinx gordius in Connecticut. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis USGS, the Walnut Sphinx This moth is also fairly widely reported to the north, west and south of Plymouth so I expect it to be present. This is the first Sphinx species I reared as a boy in New Jersey. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta USGS, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth is found to the north, west and south of Plymouth so it is probably present there too. They are common on Prince Edward Island. Paonias astylus USGS, the Huckleberry Sphinx This is a relatively uncommon species, but it is confirmed for Plymouth County. Only rarely are they seen in Maine. I never saw one in New Jersey. Paonias excaecata USGS/KW, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Plymouth. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias excaecata, Canton, July 31, 2009, Kerri Walonoski Paonias myops USGS, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Plymouth. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Hemaris thysbe USGS, the Hummingbird Clearwing They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Hemaris gracilis WO, The Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing This day flier is not commonly reported, but it is probably present in Norfolk. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth This moth is widely distributed and often reported north, west and south of Norfolk so should be present. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is reported for Plymouth, and it is fairly often reported along the coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha fasciata WO, the Banded Sphinx This moth is a very strong flier and is often reported far north of its normal range. It would be a rare stray to Norfolk. Eumorpha pandorus USGS, 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. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis USGS/MC, 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. Amphion floridensis, Foxobor, June 9, 2009, Madeline Champagne Darapsa choerilus USGS, 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 myron USGS, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is not recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Plymouth County, but it should be present. 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 USGS, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrnagea Sphinx. It has not been widely reported, however, and probably is uncommon. Deidamia inscriptum USGS, the Lettered Sphinx This species has been recorded in western Massachusetts and just south of Essex so it should also be in Plymouth. It is generally absent to the north so would be uncommon. Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is reported in Essex and Nantucket in June, so it should be present in Plymouth. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx This species is not officially reported from Plymouth County, but it is a strong migrator from the south, and there are records from the west and to the north. Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx This moth is very much under reported. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

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