Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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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. |
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Dolba hyloeus, 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, the 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, the 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,
Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere,
but it should be present in Eau Claire County.Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry
(Vaccinium). Sorry, no larval image available. |
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Sphinx chersis, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx:
The larvae are 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 or Clemen's Sphinx.
This one is reported from Richmond and from northeastern New Jersey into southern Canada. |
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Sphinx poecila, the 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. |
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, 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;
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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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.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini Tribe:
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Hemaris diffinis,
Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth. Larval hosts 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; 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. |
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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.
This species has been reported in your county, and it has been recorded in other eastern Wisconsin counties.
Larvae come in black and in brown forms and often feed on Epilobium (fireweed). |
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Hyles lineata, White-lined Sphinx.
Larvae are highly varied and feed on a 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), and 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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