Allegan County, Michigan, and Nearby Counties
Ottawa; Ionia; Barry; Berrien; Cass; St. Joseph
Sphingidae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Jennifer Nicholson who sent me the image of the Hyles lineata larva at the top of this page.

Jennie writes, "Newsflash!!

"An unidentified caterpillar was captured in northeast Allegan County. He was trying to go south in the northbound lane of a residential street.

"He was picked up by a curious mom with a very curious 4 yr old on the way to the bus stop to get her 6 yr old. He doesn’t seem to be very interested in Maple leaves.

"I would love to know what kind he is, I think he may be a Hyles lineata, but I am not sure."

Hyles lineata can be very variable in thier appearance; Jennifer has correctly identified this one.

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS (now BAMONA) for Michigan. Not all of the species are reported (only five by BAMONA, June 28, 2019: Lapara bombycoides; Paonias myops; Eumorpha pandorus; Amphion floridensis; Hyles lineata) in Allegan County in southwestern Michigan of 2013. I have added many species which I feel may be present, in addition to the Hyles lineata confirmed by Jennifer (JN) and/or the species reported by BAMONA.

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 Allegan County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that these moths are present.

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.

Please also forward your sightings to BAMONA an excellent resource.

Although this page was originally created to cover Allegan County, it is also a valid checklist for what is expected in nearby counties:

Ottawa: Hemaris diffinis; Eumorpha pandorus; Amphion floridensis; Hyles lineata;

Ionia: Manduca quinquemaculatus; Amphion floridensis;

Barry: Paonias excaecata; Darapsa myron;

Berrien: Ceratomia undulosa; Dolba hyloeus; Lapara bombycoides; Manduca quinquemaculatus; Manduca sexta; Sphinx chersis; Sphinx kalmiae; Amorpha juglandis; Pachysphinx modesta; Paonias excaecata; Paonias myops; Aellopos tantalus; Hemaris diffinis; Hemaris thysbe; Eumorpha pandorus; Darapsa choerilus; Darapsa myron; Hyles lineata;

Cass: Ceratomia undulosa; Dolba hyloeus; Manduca sexta; Sphinx canadensis; Amorpha juglandis; Pachysphinx modesta; Darapsa myron; Darapsa versicolor;

St. Joseph: Hemaris thysbe; Darapsa myron.

Visit Sphingidae of the Americas to access similar Sphingidae lists for all US states and counties, all Canadian provinces, Mexico, all Central and South American countries.

Visit North American Catocala to access pictoral checklists for Catocala (underwing moths) for all US states and all Canadian provinces.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, WO Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray 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, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx This moth is not officially recorded in Van Buren County, but I suspect it is present. 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. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia hageni WO, 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. generally a more southerly species Ceratomia undulosa WO/Berrien/Cass, 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/Berrien/Cass, 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 Allegan/Berrien, 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. 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/Ionia/Berrien, 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/Berrien/Cass, 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. Sphinx canadensis WO//Cass, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might possibly be present in Allegan County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO/Berrien, 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 kalmiae WO/Berrien, 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, 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 WO/Berrien/Cass, 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. Paonias excaecata WO/Barry/Berrien, 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 myops Allegan/Berrien, 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. Pachysphinx modesta WO/Berrien/Cass, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, 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. I suspect it is present. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, but it is recorded in Allegan. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Aellopos tantalus Berrien; the Tantalus Sphinx The body is reddish brown with a wide white band across the abdomen. The forewing upperside is reddish brown with a black cell spot and 3 white spots near the gray marginal area. A pale streak runs from the cell spot to the inner margin of the wing. This woould be a very rare stray. See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris diffinis WO/Ottawa/Berrien, 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. /td> Hemaris gracilis WO, the 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. questionable Hemaris thysbe WO/Berrien/St. Joseph, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is not confirmed for Allegan. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not reported in Allegan. 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 Allegan/ Ottawa/Berrien/, 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 Allegan/Ottawa/Ionia:, 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/Berrien, 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 WO/Barry/Berrien/Cass/St. Joseph, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is not recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Allegan 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 WO/Cass, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. However, it probably is uncommon. 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, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is not reported in Allegan County, but it may be present. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata JN/Allegan/Ottawa/Berrien, 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. 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, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south and east. It is a strong migrant, however, and may stray to Allegan County.

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