Inspired by and dedicated to Gaillynn Draur (Hyles euphorbiae larva, Cadillac, Wexford County, July 25, 2019); August 4, 2019
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, August 4, 2019
Updated as per BAMONA, August 4, 2019

Wexford County, and Nearby Counties in Northern Michigan:
Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee and Missaukee

Sphingidae Adults

Hyles gallii larva, Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan, July 25, 2019, courtesy of Gaillynn Draur.

Forty-four Sphingidae species are listed in the BAMONA for Michigan as of July 31, 2019. Not all of the species are reported (two: Paonias myops; Manduca sexta by BAMONA as of July 31, 2019) or anticipated (twenty-eight by Bill Oehlke) in Wexford County. Some of the species reported by BAMONA occur in Michigan as fall strays from further south. The strays do not reproduce in Michigan, so you would not encounter their larvae.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Gaillynn Draur of Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan. Gaillynn, sent me the images of Hyles euphorbiae larva (above and below), taken July 25, 2019, in Wexford County.

Hyles gallii larva, Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan, July 25, 2019, courtesy of Gaillynn Draur.
Remarkable: This cat would rather eat than enjoy once in a life time view.

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 Wexford County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this species is present in Wexford and nearby counties:

Benzie:Ceratomia undulosa; Sphinx chersis; Sphinx drupiferarum; Amorpha juglandis; Paonias excaecata; Paonias myops; Smerinthus jamaicensis; Hemaris diffinis; Eumorpha achemon; Amphion floridensis; Hyles euphorbiae; Hyles lineata;
Grand Traverse: Agrius cingulata; Ceratomia amyntor; Ceratomia undulosa; Dolba hyloeus; Lapara bombycoides; Lintneria eremitus; Manduca quinquemaculata; Manduca sexta; Sphinx chersis; Sphinx drupiferarum; Sphinx kalmiae; Sphinx luscitiosa; Sphinx poecila; Amorpha juglandis; Pachysphinx modesta; Paonias excaecata; Paonias myops; Smerinthus cerisyi; Smerinthus jamaicensis; Hemaris diffinis; Hemaris thysbe; Amphion floridensis; Darapsa choerilus; Darapsa myron; Darapsa versicolor; Hyles gallii; Hyles lineata; Sphecodina abbottii;
Leelanau: Ceratomia undulosa; Sphinx poecila; Paonias excaecata; Paonias myops; Eumorpha achemon; Hyles euphorbiae; Hyles lineata;
Manistee: Ceratomia undulosa; Sphinx poecila; Pachysphinx modesta; Paonias myops; Smerinthus jamaicensis; Deidamia inscriptum;
Missaukee: Hemaris diffinis; Hemaris thysbe .

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.

Although this page is inspired as a reference for Wexford County, it also serves as a valid checklist for the following nearby counties with species listed, confirmed by BAMONA, an excellent online resource. Please also send your sightings to BAMONA.

Visit similar Checklists (larvae and adult moths) for all US states, all Canadian provinces, Mexico, all Central and South American Countries

Visit similar Catocala Checklists for all US states and Canadian provinces.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, Grand Traverse 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/Grand Traverse, 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.

Ceratomia undulosa WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Manistee, 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/Grand Traverse, 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/Grand Traverse, 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/Grand Traverse, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two white bands and a triangular black patch at the base. Note the golden hair on the thorax.

Manduca quinquemaculata WO/Grand Traverse, 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 Wexford County/Grand Traverse, the Carolina Sphinx

If you grow tomatoes, you may encounter 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 Mackinac County.

Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium).

Sphinx chersis WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse, 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/WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse, the Wild Cherry Sphinx

This species is present in Mackinac County. 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/Grand Traverse, 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/Grand Traverse, 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/Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Manistee, the Poecila Sphinx

If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx.

They are pretty widespread throughout Michigan.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse, 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.

Pachysphinx modesta WO/Grand Traverse/Manistee, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx,

This large poplar/willow feeder is reported in Mackinac County.

They are a heavy bodied species.

Paonias excaecata WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Manistee, 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 Wexford County/Benzie/Grand Traverse/ Leelanau/Manistee, 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.

Smerinthus cerisyi WO/Grand Traverse, 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. It is reported in Mackinac.

Smerinthus jamaicensis WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse/Manistee, the Twin-spotted Sphinx

This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and it is recorded in Mackinac.

Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida.

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini Tribe:

Hemaris diffinis WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse/Missaukee, 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.

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 sides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. They have a red abdomen.

Hemaris thysbe WO/Grand Traverse/Missaukee, the Hummingbird Clearwing. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO/Benzie/Leelanau, the Achemon Sphinx

Macroglossini Tribe:

Amphion floridensis WO/Benzie/Grand Traverse, 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/Grand Traverse, 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/Grand Traverse, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
It is widely reported in southern Michigan and in southern Ontario. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby.

Darapsa versicolor WO/Grand Traverse, 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/Manistee, the Lettered Sphinx

This species has not been recorded in Mackinac.

It is seen in southern Ontario, however, and in central and southern Michigan.

Hyles gallii WO/Grand Traverse, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx


Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not.

Hyles lineata WO/Benzie/Leelanau, 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/Grand Traverse, 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.

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