Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
 |
Agrius cingulata WO unlikely stray
This species has been enountered in Penobscot County as a stray from much further south. Might stray into Aroostook in the fall, but is unlikely.
Very strong flier and is frequently encountered far north of its usual range. |
 |
Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx; 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). |
 |
Ceratomia undulosa BAMONA, 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. |
 |
Lapara bombycoides BAMONA, 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. |
| Sphinx canadensis WO,
Canadian Sphinx. Not common, not often reported anywhere, but it is reported in Aroostook County.
Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). |
 |
Sphinx chersis WO, 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, 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 kalmiae WO, 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, Canadian Sphinx; Clemen's Sphinx.
The upperside of the forewing is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with a faint yellow tint in females. It seems to be an uncommon species. |
 |
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, being replaced by Sphinx gordius in Connecticut. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
 |
Amorpha juglandis WO, 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. |
 |
Pachysphinx modesta WO, Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx.
This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. They are common on Prince Edward Island. |
 |
Paonias astylus WO, Huckleberry Sphinx.
It is recorded for northeastern Massachusetts and western Connecticut, but it is a surprise in Aroostook.
It would be more common in more southerly locales. |
 |
Paonias excaecata WO, Blinded Sphinx.
Named for the dull grey-blue spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in York County.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. |
 |
Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx.
Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably present in Sagadahoc, although not confirmed.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. |
 |
Smerinthus cerisyi BAMONA, Cerisyi's Sphinx.
This species probably flies throughout Maine. At my home in Montague, P.E.I., Canada, they are quite common.
The light-coloured, forewing, apical arc does not reach the outer margin in its lower half. |
 |
Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx.
This moth is widely distributed and fairly common so I suspect it is in Aroostook County.
Near the right forewing apex there is a complete light coloured arc (letter "c") reaching the outer margin. |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish
the next three species.
 |
Hemaris thysbe WO, 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, Snowberry Clearwing; 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. |
 |
Hemaris gracilis WO, Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing.
Hemaris gracilis is distinguished from similar species by a pair of red-brown bands on the undersides of the thorax, which varies from
green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. |
Philampelini tribe:
 |
Eumorpha labruscae BAMONA, Gaudy Sphinx.
The Gaudy Sphinx flies in America, and although primarily a tropical species, it has been taken as far north as Saskatchewan as a stray.
Forewings are a vibrant grey-green. stray into Maine |
Macroglossini tribe:
 |
Amphion floridensis WO.
Nessus sphinx flies during the day and at dusk: two bright yellow bands on tufted abdomen. At rest,
dark red-brown upperwings hide hw red-orange median band and yellow spot. In some specimens median band
may be very pale or almost absent. Concave regions of fw outer margin also have pale yellow markings in fringe area. |
 |
Darapsa myron
BAMONA, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx.
This moth is recorded on BAMONA for Somerset County,
but it is widely reported as far north as southern Maine. If you have
the foodplants indicated in the common names, you may have this species nearby. |
 |
Darapsa choerilus WO, the Azalea Sphinx.
They are common in New Jersey and common here on Prince Edward Island.
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. |
 |
Hyles gallii WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx.
This species is reported in Penobscot County. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not.
|
 |
Hyles lineata possible, but unlikely stray, White-lined Sphinx.
This species is reported from Penobscot County. It is a strong migrator from the south,
and there are records from the west and to the north. non resident stray |
 |
Proserpinus flavofasciata WO, Yellow-banded Day Sphinx.
Medium to dark brown with faint to distinct white median band. Hw upperside dark brown
with wide orange median band which may not reach inner margin. Moth mimics a bumblebee.
Adults fly in afternoon as a single brood from April-June in meadows in coniferous forests. |
|
|
