Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Ceratomia amyntor, Elm Sphinx; Four-horned Sphinx:
Caterpillars show both brown and green forms and are unmistakeable due to four horns on the thorax (near the head).
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). |
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Ceratomia undulosa, Waved Sphinx:
Note the pinkish-orange tail, spiracles outlined in red and the cream stripes on the head.
The dramatic color change from the dorsal
yellow-green to the lateral light greyish-blue is not always as intense as in this image. |
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Dolba hyloeus, Pawpaw Sphinx: Note the smooth skin, blue-black horn and small black spiracles.
Pawpaw is the primary host. Littleleaf sweetfern, possum haw, inkberry, tall gallberry holly and others are also utilized. |
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Lapara bombycoides, Northern Pine Sphinx:
This caterpillar is also without the anal horn and feeds on pines. The long stripes and reddish brown afford great camouflage. |
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Lintneria eremitus, Hermit Sphinx: Note triangular bump on the thorax.
Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), and sage (Salvia). |
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Manduca quinquemaculatus, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth:
Note the solid black horn and dark spiracular rings. In addition to the white oblique lines, there are fainter white rings, especially on the back.
I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. |
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Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx:
This species is not common at lights, and is not often reported anywhere.
Larval host may be exclusively black ash (Fraxinus nigra).
Variable appearance but always with granulous (darker protrusions) on pinkish horn.
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Sphinx chersis, Northern Ash Sphinx; Great Ash Sphinx. Note pale blue horn and the creamy-white stripes on head.
The yellow form has a red horn. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry and quaking aspen. |
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Sphinx drupiferarum, Wild Cherry Sphinx:
Larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night. Larvae have been found on Amelanchier nantuckensis
in Massachusetts and have been reared to pupation in Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines. |
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Sphinx gordius, Apple Sphinx:
Larval hosts are apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry
(Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus). |
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Sphinx kalmiae, Laurel Sphinx:
In the final instar, the black on the head, lateral lines, horn and on abdominal
legs is diagnostic.Larvae feed primarily on lilac and fringe. |
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Sphinx luscitiosa , Canadian Sphinx; Clemen's Sphinx:
Larval hosts are willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), birch (Betula), apple (Malus), ash (Fraxinus), waxmyrtle
(Morella), and northern bayberry. |
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Sphinx poecila, Poecila Sphinx:
If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx.
The green form is more common. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis, Walnut Sphinx:
Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans), hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus),
hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya). |
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Pachysphinx modesta, Modest Sphinx; Poplar Sphinx:
The anal horn is very rudimantary in final inistar. It is fond of poplars and willows. |
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Paonias excaecata, Blinded Sphinx:
Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada. |
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Paonias myops, Small-eyed Sphinx:
Wild cherry species are the favorites as larval foodplants, but eggs will also be deposited on birches and other forest trees.
There are varying degrees in the amount of red markings along the sides. |
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Smerinthus cerisyi,
Cerisy's Sphinx;
Cerisyi larvae greatly resemble modesta larvae, both being pale
green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red
spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from the
head to a more pronounced anal diagonal line.
Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with a pale yellow
inverted "V".
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Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries,
but are expecially fond of poplars and willows. Red markings on sides
vary greatly from specimen to specimen.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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There is also an orangey-pink prepupal form. The lateral line runs
from S1 to the blue horn.
Hemaris thysbe larvae feed on viburnum and related plants.
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Hemaris diffinis, Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth:
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos),
honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane
(Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
Horn black; yellow base.
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Hemaris gracilis,
the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing:
Hemaris gracilis is distinguished from similar species by a pair of
red-brown bands on the undersides of the thorax, which varies from
green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white
underneath. They have a red abdomen.
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Philampelini tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon, Achemon Sphinx:
Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies
(Ampelopsis).
Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and darker (tan/brown/reddish)
forms. Note six "segmented" oblique lines. questionable, generally more southerly
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Eumorpha pandorus, Pandorus Sphinx:
If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter
this species.Note the five large white ovals. There are orangey-brown and green
forms also. |
Macroglossini tribe:
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Amphion floridensis, Nessus Sphinix:
In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis),
ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum).
Larvae are green until the final instar.
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Darapsa choerilus, Azalea Sphinx:
Larvae feed on Azalea and Viburnum and progress very rapidly. The
larva to the left on Viburnum cassinoides is getting ready to
pupate. Color change from green to light burgundy-brown indicates
pupation is imminent.
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Darapsa myron, Virginia Creeper Sphinx; Grapevine Sphinx:
If you have the
foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this
species nearby. The lower wings are orange.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),
Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, Viburnum.
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Darapsa versicolor, Hydrangea Sphinx:
Larvae feed on Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens),
buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), and waterwillow
(Decodon verticillatus).
Note small head which can be retracted into the thorax.
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Deidamia inscriptum, Lettered Sphinx:
Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts.
The alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back
distinguish this larva.
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Hyles gallii, Bedstraw Hawk Moth
or Gallium Sphinx:
Larvae come in black and in brown forms and often feed on
Epilobium (fireweed).
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Hyles lineata, White-lined Sphinx:
Highly varied, feed on great diversity of plants
including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis),
apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm
(Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon),
purslane (Portulaca), Fuschia.
All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by
dorso-lateral lines.
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Proserpinus flavosfasciata, Yellow-banded Day Sphinx:
Penultimate instar is pale green with pair of pale, dorsolateral lines running from head to base of short caudal horn.
Last instar is brown-black with numerous black dots; caudal horn replaced by a black button surrounded by whitish band edged with black.
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Sphecodina abbottii, the Abbott's Sphinx:
Larvae feed at night on grape (Vitis) and ampelopsis
(Ampelopsis) and hide on the bark of their host plants during
the day. Virginia creeper would also be a suitable host. There is also a dark form
without the green patches. Note the "raised eye", replacing the anal horn.
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