Created/dedicated as per personal communication with Saundra Byrd (Manduca rustica, Accomack County, June 15, 2022); June 16, 2022
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America; June 16, 2022
Updated as per BAMONA; June 16, 2022

Accomack County, Virginia and Nearby Counties:
Lancaster; Matthews; Middlesex; Northampton; Northumberland; Poguoson; Westmoreland

Sphingidae

Manduca rustica Accomack County, Virginia,
June 15, 2022, courtesy of Saundra Byrd.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Saundra Byrd who sends the Manduca rustica image, top of page, from Accomack County, Virginia

Thirty-six Sphingidae species are listed for Virginia on the BAMONA) website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Accomack County (four species are reported on BAMONA. as of June 17, 2022):

Agrius cingulata; Hemaris diffinis; Eumorpha pandorus; Xylophanes tersa.

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

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Accomack or any of the counties covered, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present.

An "Accomack" 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.

Although this page was inpsired by Saundra Byrd for Accomack County, it also serves as a valid checklist for what can be expected in nearby counties.

Accomack: Agrius cingulata; Hemaris diffinis; Eumorpha pandorus; Xylophanes tersa;

Lancaster: Sphinx franckii;

Matthews: none reported;

Middlesex: Eumorpha pandorus;

Northampton: Eumorpha fasciatus;

Northumberland: Manduca rustica; Hemaris diffinis; Eumorpha pandorus;

Poquoson: none reported

Westmoreland: Hemaris diffinis; Amphion floridensis.

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You can visit similar Sphingidae checklists for most counties in all US states; all provinces in Canada, Mexico, and all countries in the Carribean Islands, Central and South America via links from Sphingidae of the Americas.

You can visit similar Catocala checklists for all US states and Canadian provinces via links from North American Catocala.

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Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, Accomack Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray: Strong migrant, adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) petunia (Petunia species).

Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx: Forewing: brown with dark brown and white markings including white costal area near wing base, dark streaks along veins, and white spot in cell. Larvae: Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).

Ceratomia catalpae WO, Catalpa Sphinx: The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The cell spot is gray with a black outline. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths.
Catalpa is the larval host.

Ceratomia undulosa WO, Waved Sphinx: Forewing pale brownish gray with wavy black & white lines & black-outlined white cell spot. Hindwing gray with diffuse darker bands.

Dolba hyloeus WO, 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 coniferarum WO, Southern Pine Sphinx: Forewing: gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near wing center; other markings usually diffuse. Hindwing is a uniform brown-gray. If you've got pines, this species is likely present.

Manduca jasminearum WO, the Ash Sphinx: The upperside of forewing is gray to grayish brown with a black line running from the middle of the costa to the middle of the outer margin; the line may be broken near the margin. There is a splash of brown around the cell spot.

Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth

I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata.

Manduca rustica Accomack; Saundra Byrd/Northumberland, Rustic Sphinx. Three large yellow spots on each side of abdomen. Forewing: yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with dusting of white scales and zigzagged black and white lines.

Manduca sexta WO, the Carolina Sphinx

If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in the larval stage.

Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Paratrea plebeja WO, Plebeian Sphinx Forewing 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.

Sphinx chersis WO, Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.

Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx

We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae.

Sphinx gordius WO, the Apple Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak.

Sphinx franckii Lancaster, Franck's Sphinx Moth: Forewing costal half: grey, but posterior portion distinctive warm yellowish-brown; boundary between these two areas marked with series of dark diagonal streaks. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks dark bar along fw inner margin.

Sphinx kalmiae WO, 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.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis WO, Walnut Sphinx: Adults: highly variable; sometimes wings may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have a white or pink tinge. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. See file for female; she is different.

Paonias astylus WO, Huckleberry Sphinx. Paonias astylus flies from March-September in Florida and from April-September in Louisiana. There is one brood northward from June-August. This appears to be an uncommon species.

Paonias excaecata WO, Blinded Sphinx. Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution in the eastern United States. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida.

Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx. Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in York County.

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

Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, Twin-spotted Sphinx. This moth is widely distributed and fairly common.

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

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini tribe:

See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species.

Hemaris thysbe WO, 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 Accomack/Northumberland/ Westmoreland. Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth: Adults mimic bumblebees; quite variable. Wings basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases & edges. Thorax golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. Abdomen usually dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments before tip.

Hemaris gracilis WO, Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing. This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in Virginia, but has been seen in southern N.J. and in eastern South Carolina and Florida. unlikely

Philampelini tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO, Achemon Sphinx. Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper.

Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx.

Eumorpha fasciatus Northampton, Banded Sphinx. Upperside: dark pinkish brown. Forewing with lighter brown band along costa, & sharp pinkish white bands & streaks. Primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) & others in evening primrose family.

Eumorpha pandorus Accomack; Middlesex/ Northumberland, 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.

Macroglossini tribe:

Amphion floridensis Westmoreland, 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, the Azalea Sphinx

The lower wings of this hawkmoth are a solid brownish-orange, matching the body colour.

You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature.

Darapsa myron WO, Virginia Creeper Sphinx or Grapevine Sphinx. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. The lower wings are orange.

Darapsa versicolor WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx

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

Deidamia inscriptum WO, 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. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts.

Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx

This species has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine.

Sphecodina abbottii WO, 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.

Xylophanes tersa Accomack, Tersa Sphinx. This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however, and probably re-establishes itself in York most years. It might also overwinter there.

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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