Created/dedicated as per personal communication with Kate Redmond, December 16, 2011
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, December 16, 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Jillaine Wick, September 17, 2022

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and Nearby Counties:
Calumet; Outagamie; Waushara; Winnebago

Sphingidae Larvae

Hyles lineata larva, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan beach area, courtesy of Kate Redmond.

For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta larva, Travis County, central Texas, August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Kate Redmond, who sent me the Hyles lineata image, top of this page.

Kate writes (December 16, 2011), " The caterpillar is a scanned slide, so the color is a bit "iffy." It was taken about 25 years ago (I can hunt down the slide if you need to know) on evening primrose on the Lake Michigan beach in southern Sheboygan County, WI."

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the larvae you have encountered.

A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Sheboygan County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this species is present.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

Ceratomia amyntor prepupal larva, Waushara County, Wisconsin,
September 16, 2022, courtesy of Jillaine Wick.

Many thanks to Jillaine Wick who provides the Ceratomia amyntor image directly above.

Jillaine writes, "I saw your website while looking to identify this larva.

"It is about 4” long, grey-green with a rosy blush on top. I believe it fell down from the River Birch tree. My dog found it in the leaf litter. I am guessing it was about to pupate.

"This is Waushara County, Wisconsin. Found it today 9/16/22."

Visit Sheboygan County Sphingidae; Adult Moths
Visit Wisconsin Catocala; Underwing Moths

Although this page was orginally created as a reference for Sheboygan County, it is also valid for the following counties:

Calumet: Sphinx chersis;

Outagamie: Ceratomia undulosa; Sphinx chersis; Pachysphinx modesta; Hemaris thysbe; Eumorpha pandorus; Amphion floridensis.

Waushara: Ceratomia amyntor (JW); Ceratomia undulosa; Hemaris thysbe; Hyles lineata.

Winnebago: Ceratomia undulosa; Manduca quinquemaculatus; Sphinx chersis; Eumorpha achemon; Hyles lineata.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Ceratomia amyntor WO/Waushara; (JW):, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). There are both pale green and brown forms. The four horns near the head are diagnostic.

Ceratomia undulosa WO/Outagamie/Waushara/Winnebago, the 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.

Dolba hyloeus WO, 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).

Lapara bombycoides WO, . Northern Pine Sphinx. This caterpillar is also without the anal horn and feeds on pines.

The long stripes and reddish brown afford great camouflage.

Lintneria eremitus WO, Hermit Sphinx. Note triangular bump on the thorax. Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), and sage (Salvia).

Manduca quinquemaculatus WO/Winnebago, Five-spotted Hawkmoth. Tomato Hornworms: 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).

Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might be present in Chippewa County.

Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium).

Sphinx chersis WO/Calumet/Outagamie/Winnebago, 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.

Sphinx drupiferarum WO, 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.

Sphinx gordius WO, 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).

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.

They are probably widespread throughout Wisconsin, but are very much under reported.

Sphinx vashti WO, the 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:

Amorpha juglandis WO, 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/Outagamie, Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx. Larvae feed on poplars and cottonwood.

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

Paonias myops WO, 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; Greatly resemble modesta larvae, 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, 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 diffinis WO, Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth. Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane (Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Horn is black with yellow base.

Hemaris gracilis WO. Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing. Larval foods are blueberries including low bush blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans), and laurel (Kalmia), all in the heath family (Ericaceae).

Hemaris thysbe WO/Outagamie/Waushara, 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:

Eumorpha achemon WO/Winnebago, 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.

Eumorpha pandorus JK/Outagamie, 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:

Amphion floridensis WO/Outagamie, 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. 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.

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. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum.

Deidamia inscriptum WO, 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.

Hyles gallii WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx. Larvae come in black and in brown forms and often feed on Epilobium (fireweed).

Hyles lineata KR/Waushara/Winnebago, White-lined Sphinx. Highly varied; feed on great diversity of plants: 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.

Hyles lineata larva, Sheboygan County, Lake Michigan beach area, courtesy of Kate Redmond.

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.

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This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments: Saturniidae cocoons. Cocoons of these giant silkmoths are for sale in fall and winter. Large, beautiful moths emerge in the spring and summer.


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