Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Ceratomia amyntor, Elm Sphinx; Four-horned Sphinx.
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).
There are both green and brown forms. The four horns near the head are diagnostic. |
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Ceratomia catalpae, Catalpa Sphinx.This caterpillar is one of the few North American Sphingidae that
feed in large groups. Colouration is distinctive. The larvae are much more spectacular than the moths.
Catalpa is the larval host. |
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Ceratomia undulosa, Waved Sphinx. Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Quercus, Crataegus and
Chionanthus virginicus are listed as hosts. In the fifth instar, the spiracular ovals are decidedly red and the
anal horn is off-white to pinkish laterally. |
Ceratomia undulosa prepupal larva, Wyalusing State Park, August 4, 2014, Dan Jackson.
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Dolba hyloeus generally more easterly,
the Pawpaw Sphinx. Larvae feed on pawpaw (Asimina triloba), littleleaf sweetfern
(Myrica aspleniifolia), possum haw (Ilex decidua), and inkberry (Ilex glabra) as well as Tall Gallberry Holly (Ilex coriacea).
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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. questionable
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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, Five-spotted Hawkmoth.
The caterpillars are called Tomato Hornworms and each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen.
Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). |
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Manduca sexta, Carolina Sphinx. Note the red horn and black dots anterior to the white oblique lines.
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Emily Balsley found one on her pepper plants. |
| Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not
often reported anywhere, but it should be present in your county. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry
(Vaccinium). Sorry, no larval image available.
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Sphinx chersis, Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx:
Pale bluish green. The head has a pair of yellow lateral bands meeting at the apex. The oblique, lateral stripes are
pale and bordered anteriorly with a darker green. 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.
This one is reported from Richmond and from northeastern New Jersey into southern Canada. |
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Sphinx poecila, Poecila Sphinx.
If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. They are probably widespread throughout Wisconsin,
but are very much under reported. questionable |
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Sphinx vashti, Snowberry Sphinx. Larvae feed on the common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
and on coralberry (S. orbiculatus). Note the two golden lines of slightly raised bumps, one just behind the head, the other on the thorax.
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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 or Poplar Sphinx.
Larvae feed on poplars and cottonwood. Anal horn all but disappears in final instar. |
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Paonias excaecata, the Blinded Sphinx.
Larval skin is grainy in appearance. 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;
Pale green, 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 a pale yellow inverted "V". |
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Smerinthus jamaicensis, 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:
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Hemaris diffinis, Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth.
Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane
(Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Horn black, yellow base. |
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Hemaris gracilis, Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing.
Larval foods are blueberries including low bush blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans), and laurel (Kalmia), all in the
heath family (Ericaceae). |
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Hemaris thysbe, 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. |
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 a darker (tan/brown)
form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines. questionable |
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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 or the Grapevine Sphinx.
If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby.
Larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum. |
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Darapsa versicolor generally more easterly,
the Hydrangea Sphinx: Larvae feed on Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens),
buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), waterwillow (Decodon verticillatus).
Note small head which can be retracted into the thorax. questionable |
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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; Gallium Sphinx.
This species is not reported in your county, but it has been recorded in eastern Wisconsin counties. I suspect it is present.
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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Sphecodina abbottii, 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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