Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Ceratomia amyntor
TM,
the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx
This moth is now officially recorded in Warren County.
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and
cherry (Prunus). |
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This species is not officially recorded for Warren
(possibly too far north).
I have seen them in great numbers in other New Jersey counties. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more
spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. |
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This moth is now recorded in Warren. I have seen them as far north as
P.E.I. in eastern Canada, and took them in New Jersey.
It is
named for the wavy lines on the forewings. |
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This moth is not recorded in Warren. It is widely reported in
other New Jersey counties and in Connecticut.
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This moth is not reported from Warren County, but if you have pines, you
probably have this species. It flies on P.E.I.
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This moth is not reported from Warren County, but it is widely
reported in New Jersey and along the coast in Connecticut and Masachusetts.
If you've got pines, this species is likely present. |
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This species is confirmed for Warren by Tony McBride.
Generally it is not widely reported.
Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis),
and sage (Salvia). |
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This species is officially recorded in Warren County by Tony McBride.
It is reported in much of New Jersey, southeastern New York and Connecticut.
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This species is has been recorded by Tony McBride in Warren County, and
has been seen in nearby counties.
I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it.
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This species is not officially recorded in Warren, but it has been
taken in other counties in northeastern and central eastern New Jersey. I would not
be surprised to get a report. Look for three large yellow spots
on each side of the abdomen.
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This species is recorded in Warren by Andy McBride.
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it, though.
Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.
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 | 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.
Questionable
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Sphinx chersis
TM,
the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx
This species is reported in Warren. Larval hosts are ash,
lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.
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This species is not officially reported in Warren. We have them
on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently
as I see the other Sphingidae. |
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This species is not reported in Warren. Generally it is
not widely reported anywhere.
Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks the dark bar
along the fw inner margin. |
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This species is confirmed in Warren by Tony McBride.
It is widely reported in neighbouring counties.
Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies
more to the north. |
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This species is now officially reported in Warren.
I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on
lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered.
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Smerinthini Tribe:
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This moth is fairly widely reported to the north and east
and Tony McBride reports them in Warren.
This is the first Sphinx species I reared as a boy in New Jersey.
See the file for the female; she is different. |
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Pachysphinx modesta
TM,
the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx
This moth is now officially recorded in Warren County. It is fond
of poplars and
willows.
They are common on Prince Edward Island. |
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This appears to be an uncommon species. They are not officially
recorded for Warren, but it should be present.
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Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing,
this moth has a wide distribution and is common in Warren
County.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported
as far south as Florida. |
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Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution
and is common in Warren County.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported
as far south as Florida.
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This moth is widely distributed and fairly common.
Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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Hemaris thysbe
TM, the Hummingbird Clearwing
This interesting day flier is confirmed in Warren and
is widely reported to the north, east and west.
They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. |
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Hemaris diffinis
TM, the
Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth
This moth is widespread and has been officially recorded in
Warren. It has been confirmed in northwestern N.J. and
southeastern N.Y. and Connecticut.
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Hemaris gracilis
WO, the
Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing
This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in
Warren, but has been seen in northeastern N.J. and
southeastern N.Y. unlikely
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Philampelini tribe:
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This moth is not officially reported for Warren, but
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. |
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If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have
this species.
I have often seen them in Pottersville. |
Macroglossini tribe:
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This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you
probably have the Nessus Sphinx. It is reported from
Richmond.
Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow
bands are often visible on the abdomen.
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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.
They are common
in Hunterdon County.
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Darapsa myron
TM, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
This moth is not recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Warren County,
but Tony McBride confirms its presence.
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. |
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If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the
Hydrangea Sphinx.
It has now been reported in Warren County,
but probably is not common.
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This species has been recorded in Warren.
Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. |
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Hyles gallii
TM, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth
or Gallium Sphinx
Tony McBride reports two flights in Warren County, May and August.
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Hyles lineata
WO/TM, the White-lined Sphinx
This species has been taken in Pottersville, just south of Warren County. It has
strong migrating tendancies from much further south.
There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. |
Hyles lineata, middle August 2019, Tony McBride, via Joe Garris
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This moth is very much under reported across the United States. It
is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections.
Grape is a popular larval host. I have taken it is Pottersville (Hunterdon County).
tony McBride confirms them in Warren County.
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This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant,
however. Tony McBride reports them in Warren County.
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