Livingston County, Michigan
Sphingidae

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Michigan. Not all of the species are reported (twenty-one by USGS) or anticipated in Livingston County. I have added many species which I feel may be present, in addition to Hemaris thysbe reported by USGS and by Mike Ryan of Hartland.

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

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Mike Ryan who sent me the images, top and bottom of this page, of Hemaris thysbe from Hartland.

Mike writes,

"Hello Bill,

"My name is Mike Ryan, and I live in Hartland, Michigan.

"My Wife has a Butterfly bush, and the other day we saw what appeared to be a small Hummingbird at it. It took a couple of days for me to get some pictures of it, only to discover that it wasn't a Hummingbird at all. After inquiring about it in a few forums, I was told it was a Hummingbird moth, or Hemaris thysbe.

"Doing a Google search, I found your website, and was pleased to find more pictures of them. If you would like, you may add my pictures and info to your site."

Most of the Sphingidae are active at night, but Hemaris thysbe, Hemaris diffinis, Amphion floridensis and Sphecodina abbottii nectar during the day. Manduca quinquemaculata, Manduca sexta and Hyles lineata are sometimes seen nectaring in the early evening at dusk. The other species are more likely to be seen parked on a building wall below a night light.

Most people are more likely to encounter the caterpillars of these moths. The larvae get quite large, up to four inches in length with a girth similar to that of a man's finger.

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.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia amyntor USGS, the Elm Sphinx or 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 catalpae WO/HDK, the Catalpa Sphinx This is generally a more southerly species, but it has been recorded just to the south and west of Livingston County and may be present. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia catalpae E. S. George Reserve, Livingstone Co., July 23, 1977, Harry Dale King. 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. 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. 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. 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 USGS, 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, the Carolina Sphinx The abdomen usually has six pairs of yellow bands, broken across the back. The sixth set of markings is quite small. If you grow tomatoes, you have possibly encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might possibly be present in Livingston County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis USGS, 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 USGS, 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, 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. Sphinx poecila USGS, the Poecila Sphinx If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. The forewing is dark gray with diffuse black and gray wavy lines with a series of black dashes ending at the wing tip, and a white cell spot. 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. Paonias excaecata USGS, 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 USGS, 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 USGS, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. They are a heavy bodied species. Smerinthus cerisyi USGS, 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. Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and it is recorded in Livingston County. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Hemaris diffinis USGS, 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. See Hemaris comparison Hemaris thysbe MR/USGS, the 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 thysbe, Hartland, September 1, 2005, Mike Ryan Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not reported for Livingston, but should be present. 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 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, 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 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 recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Livingston County. 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 Hydrangea Sphinx. However, it probably is uncommon. Deidamia inscriptum USGS, 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 Livingston, but it may be present. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata USGS, 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 Livingston.

Hemaris thysbe, Hartland, Michigan, September 1, 2005, courtesy of Mike Ryan

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This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.