Ontario County, New York
Sphingidae

Agrius cingulata, nearby Monroe County, August 29, 2005, courtesy of Steve Daniel.

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed for New York on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Ontario County (only three are reported on U.S.G.S.).

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Ontario County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present. A "USGS" indicates the moth is reported on the USGS website and/or in Lepidoptera of North America, #1. Distribution of Silkmoths (Saturniidae) and Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) of Eastern North America, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an electronic image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

This page is dedicated to Charles DeRoller in appreciation for his help with Saturniidae distributions. Charles has confirmed the following Sphingidae from Ontario County: cingulata, amyntor, undulosa, bombycoides, quinquemaculatus, chersis, kalmie, juglandis, modesta, excaecata, myops, cerisyi, jamaicensis, thysbe, diffinis, achemon, pandorus, floridensis, myron, inscriptum, abbotti.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata CD, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth stray

This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to Ontario County as a rare stray. There are not too many records from New York state, but records exist for NJ and CT.

Ceratomia amyntor CD, 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 CD, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is gray with diffuse darker bands.

Dolba hyloeus WO, 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. doubtful

Lapara bombycoides CD, the Northern Pine Sphinx

This moth is not reported from Ontario, but it is reported to the north, east, south and west. If you have pines, you probably have this species. It flies on P.E.I.

Lintneria eremitus WO/SD, 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.

Lintneria eremitus, nectaring at monarda at dusk, July 12, 2010, courtesy of Steve Daniel

Manduca quinquemaculatus CD, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth
The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it.

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. The upperside of the forewing has indistinct black, brown, and white markings. If you grow tomatoes, however, you may have encountered it as it has been found in western N.Y.

Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might be present in Ontario County as it is reported from southern Ontario, Canada.

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

Sphinx chersis CD, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx

This species is probably present but may not be common. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.

Sphinx drupiferarum USGS, the Wild Cherry Sphinx

This species is officially reported in Ontario. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae.

Sphinx kalmiae CD, 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

This one is not reported from Ontario County, but it has been seen to the southeast. It is generally not common. possibility

Sphinx poecila WO, the Poecila Sphinx

If you have blueberries in the woods, then you might have the Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island. It has not been confirmed in Ontario County.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis CD, 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 CD, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx
This moth is now recorded in nearby Monroe County by Steve Daniel. It is fond of poplars and willows.

They are common on Prince Edward Island.

Paonias excaecata CD, the Blinded Sphinx

Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Ontario County.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida.

Paonias myops CD, the Small-eyed Sphinx

Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Ontario County.

I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida.

Smerinthus cerisyi CD, the Cerisyi's Sphinx
Smerinthus cerisyi is found in the southern regions of all Canadian provinces and in northern border states. The one-eyed sphinx is also found along the U.S. west coast, eastward to the Rockies. At my home in Montague, P.E.I., Canada, they are quite common.

Smerinthus jamaicensis CD, the Twin-spotted Sphinx

This moth is widely distributed and fairly common.

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

Smerinthus jamaicensis, June 9, 2004, Steve Daniel
Smerinthus jamaicensis May 25; June 7, 2006, Steve Daniel

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini tribe:

See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species.

Hemaris thysbe CD, 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 diffinis CD, the Snowberry Clearwing or 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 with 1-2 yellow segments on the abdomen.

Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing

This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in Monroe, but has been seen due east, south and west. Questionable.

Philampelini tribe:

Eumorpha achemon CD, the Achemon Sphinx

This moth is not reported for Ontario, 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.

Eumorpha pandorus CD, 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 not previously reported. Confirmed by Steve Daniel in nearby Monroe County.

Macroglossini tribe:

Amphion floridensis CD, the Nessus Sphinix

This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. It is not officially reported from Ontario.
Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen.

Darapsa choerilus WO, 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.
It is not confirmed for Ontario Co., but likely is present.

Darapsa myron U.S.G.S., the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Ontario County, and is confirmed by Steve Daniel in nearby Monroe 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 WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx

If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx.

It has not been reported in Ontario Co., but is likely there.

Deidamia inscriptum U.S.G.S., the Lettered Sphinx

This species has been recorded in Ontario County.

Larvae feed on grape foliage and on Virginia Creeper.

Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx

This species is not reported in Ontario Co., but I suspect it is there.

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

Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx

This species is not reported from Ontario County. It flies across southern New York and has strong migrating tendancies. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine.

Sphecodina abbottii CD, the Abbott's Sphinx

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.
It is now confirmed in nearby Monroe, by Steve Daniel, May 8, 2006.




Sphecodina abbottii May 8, 2006, nearby Monroe County, courtesy of Steve Daniel.

Ontario County Recording Sheets:
Days 1-16 page 1 A. cingulata to S. cerisyi
Days 17-31 page 1 A. cingulata to S. cerisyi
Days 1-16 page 2 H. diffinis to S. abbottii
Days 17-31 page 2 H. diffinis to S. abbottii
Days 1-16 blank
Days 17-31 blank

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

Eggs of many North American species are offered during the spring and summer. Occasionally summer Actias luna and summer Antheraea polyphemus cocoons are available. Shipping to US destinations is done from with in the US.

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