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Created/dedicated as per personal communication with Joy (Eumorpha fasciatus larva, Winterstown, York County, Pennsylvania); October 15, 2013 Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, October 15, 2013 Updated as per BAMMONA, October 15, 2013 |
Eumoprha fasciatus, Winterstown, York County, Pennsylvania,
October 14, 2013, courtesy of Joy.
This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information/sightings are welcomed by Bill.
Joy writes, "I discovered this caterpillar along the pond edge on three way sedge, Dulichium arundinaceum. I'm thinking we are north for its range of distribution. From what I have read it will pupate underground."
I reply, "Yes, it is north of generally accepted range, and it may not be able to withstand winter temperatures in pupal stage in your area, although pupation near pond might provide more moderate winter soil temperatures. I suspect eggs were deposited on host by a migrant stray from further south."Perhaps, however, this species is developing a tolerance for colder temperatures, and influences of global warming may provide opportunities for survival in more northern habitats than the generally accepted breeding range."
Most of the Sphingidae larvae are green and well camouflaged among the foliage they eat. Generally only one to five eggs are deposited on a single host plant, and these larvae go unnoticed unless they are feeding on garden tomato plants (Manduca quinquemaculata and Manduca sexta), in large numbers on Catalpa trees (Ceratomia catalpae), or on foliage of decorative flowers (Hyles lineata on portulaca, and/or Xylophanes tersa on pentas).
If you have domestic grape vines or decorative Virginia Creeper growing on your property or nearby, you may encounter several of the others:
Eumorpha achemon, Eumorpha pandorus, Amphion floridenis,
Darapsa myron, Deidamia inscriptum and Sphecodina abbottii.
Encounters with other species are less likely, but some of the larger species consume copious amounts of foliage, revealing their spectacular bulk.
Almost all of the Sphingidae larvae, at maturity, leave their foodplant hosts and crawl some distance from the plant to excavate subterranean chambers in which to pupate. I frequently get asked to identify caterpillars discovered in this travel mode.
Most Sphingidae larvae have a well defined anal horn, harmless to humans, but probably threatening to some would-be predators. The Eumorpha species and Specodina abbottii have the horn replaced by a raised "eye" in the final instar. The Lapara species are without horns from the time of hatching.
For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta larva, central Texas, August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.
Fifty-one Sphingidae species are listed for Pennsylvania on the BAMONA website as of October 15, 2013. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in York County (sixteen are reported on BAMONA, one of which is a non-breeding stray: Agrius cingulata. It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the caterpillars you are might encounter.
A "WO" after the species name indicates that I (William Oehlke) expect that this species is present or might be present.
A "BAMONA" indicates the moth is reported on the BAMONA 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.
Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource.
Visit York County Sphingidae: Adult Moths
Visit Pennsylvania Catocala: Underwing Moths
Sphinginae subfamily
Smerinthini Tribe:
Macroglossinae subfamilyDilophonotini tribe:
See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species.
Philampelini tribe:
Macroglossini tribe:
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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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