Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, August 16, 2011
Dedicated to Jackie Kincaid (Hyles gallii, September 1, 2013

Rutland County, Vermont
Sphingidae Larvae

Hyles gallii fifth instar, Rutland County, Vermont,
September 1, 2013, courtesy of Jackie Kincaid.

This page is dedicated to Jackie Kincaid who sends the image above. Jackie writes, "In searching to identify this, I found your website.... decided to send you the photo even though you have so many. This was in Rutland County in Vermont on patio stones...I have since seen another one on our driveway quite a distance from this one. Now that I have seen the pupae pictures, I realize these are around the patio area also."

Seventeen Sphingidae species are listed for Vermont on the BAMONA website. I have added many species based on James P. Tuttle's excellent new book, The Hawk Moths of North America. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated or "considerabled possible" (thirty-two by Bill Oehlke) in your county.

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

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

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 sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource, via the link to the left.

For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.

Visit Rutland County Sphingidae: Adult Moths.
Visit Vermont Catocala: Underwing Moths.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx; Four-horned Sphinx: Both brown and green forms and are unmistakeable due to four horns on thorax (near the head). Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).

Ceratomia undulosa WO, Waved Sphinx: Pinkish-orange tail, spiracles outlined in red; cream stripes on head. Dramatic color change from dorsal yellow-green to lateral light greyish-blue is not always as intense as in this image.

Dolba hyloeus WO, Pawpaw Sphinx: Smooth skin, blue-black horn, small black spiracles. Pawpaw, littleleaf sweetfern, possum haw,inkberry, tall gallberry holly and others are also utilized.

Lapara bombycoides WO, Northern Pine Sphinx: Without anal horn and feeds on pines. The long stripes and reddish brown afford great camouflage.

Lintneria eremitus WO, Hermit Sphinx: Note triangular bump on thorax. Beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), sage (Salvia).

Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, Five-spotted Hawkmoth: Note solid black horn; dark spiracular rings. In addition to white oblique lines, there are fainter white rings, especially on back. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it.

Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx: Uncommon at lights, not often reported anywhere. Larval host may be exclusively black ash (Fraxinus nigra). Variable appearance but always with granulous (darker protrusions) on pinkish horn.

Sphinx chersis WO, Northern Ash Sphinx, Great Ash Sphinx Pale blue horn; creamy-white stripes on head. Yellow form has red horn. Ash, lilac, privet, cherry and quaking aspen.

Sphinx drupiferarum WO, Wild Cherry Sphinx: Larvae hide by day, feed primarily on cherry, plum, apple at night. Amelanchier nantuckensis in Massachusetts; reared to pupation in Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines.

Sphinx gordiusWO,Apple Sphinx: Apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry, huckleberry (Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), alder (Alnus).

Sphinx kalmiae WO, 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.

Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx: Larval hosts are willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), birch (Betula), apple (Malus), ash (Fraxinus), waxmyrtle (Morella), and northern bayberry.

Sphinx poecila WO, the Poecila Sphinx

If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx.

The green form is more common.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis WO, the Walnut Sphinx: Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans), hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus), hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya).

Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx: The anal horn is very rudimantary in final inistar. It is fond of poplars and willows.

Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx: Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada.

Paonias myops WO, the 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.

Smerinthus cerisyi WO, Cerisy's Sphinx: Pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, very pale longitudinal lines running from head to more pronounced anal diagonal line. Green heads bounded dorsally with pale yellow inverted V.

Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx: 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.

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini tribe:

Hemaris thysbe WO, Hummingbird Clearwing: 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.

Hemaris diffinis WO, Snowberry Clearwing: Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane (Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Black horn, yellow base.

Hemaris gracilis WO, Slender Clearwing, Graceful Clearwing: Distinguished from similar species by pair of red-brown bands on undersides of thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. Red abdomen/legs.

Philampelini tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO ??, Achemon Sphinx: Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), other vines, ivies (Ampelopsis). Larvae occur in both light (green) form and darker (tan/brown/reddish) forms. Note six "segmented" oblique lines. 4

Eumorpha pandorus WO, Pandorus Sphinx: If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter this species. Note the five large white ovals (ovals can be orange on green forms). There are orangey-brown and green forms also.

Macroglossini tribe:

Amphion floridensis WO, the Nessus Sphinix: In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum).

Larvae are green until the final instar.

Darapsa choerilus WO, Azalea Sphinx: Azalea, Viburnum; progress very rapidly. Larva to left on Viburnum cassinoides is getting ready to pupate. Color change from green to light burgundy-brown indicates pupation is imminent.

Darapsa myron WO, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx: If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. The lower wings are orange. Larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum.

Darapsa versicolor WO, Hydrangea Sphinx: Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), waterwillow (Decodon verticillatus). Note small head which can be retracted into the thorax.

Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx: Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus). Alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back distinguish this larva.

Hyles gallii WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth, Gallium Sphinx: Blackor brown forms; Epilobium (fireweed).

Hyles gallii fifth instar, September 1, 2013, Jackie Kincaid

Hyles lineata WO, White-lined Sphinx: Highly varied; willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon), purslane (Portulaca), Fuschia. Red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines.

Proserpinus flavosfasciata WO, 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.

Sphecodina abbottii WO, 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.


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.

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