Washburn County, Wisconsin
Sphingidae

Thirty-five Sphingidae species are listed on BAMONA for Wisconsin. Not all of the species are reported (seven by BAMONA as of September 21, 2013) or anticipated (twenty-four by Bill Oehlke) in Washburn County.

This page is dedicated to Celeste Rouse who provides images (above and below) of an Aellopos titan moth nectaring in her yard.

Aellopos titan, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin,
August 12, 2021, courtesy of Celeste Rouse.

Aellopos titan, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin,
August 12, 2021, courtesy of Celeste Rouse.

Celeste writes, "I was out tending to my Hummingbirds when I looked over at my Phlox to see if I saw any movement. I was delighted to see a Clearwing Hummingbird Moth which has been my third visitor of the year. I figured I had enough pics of him when I saw another larger visitor! I ran into the house to get my camera praying he would still be there.

"IT WAS A TITAN SPHINX Moth. I had never heard or seen one before. I tried to do a little research to see if they are common in North West Wisconsin and I don't think they are.

"I am sending you three photos. Any information you can give me would be valuable."

I reply, "Yes, it is an Aellopos titan, and it is a rare stray into Wisconsin.

"There are quite a few Sphingidae, generally from much further south, that seem to ride severe weather patterns (wind currents) and are probably wind assisted from south to north along some of the river valleys. Check out the website link that I sent and you will see the list of rare strays in Wisconsin. The state of Ohio is also known for its rare strays, and I think they are wind assisted as well along the Ohio River valley.

"It is likely that these strays cannot overwinter in Ohio or Wisconsin, but are multi-brooded, and early broods from much further south ride wind currents into some of the northern states."

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

A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Washburn 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 image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

Please also forward your sightings to BAMONA an excellent online resource.

Visit Washburn County Sphingidae Larvae.

Visit Sphingidae Checklists of all coutries in North, Central and South America.

Visit Wisconsin Catocala: Underwing Moths.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx. Four-horned Sphinx: Brown with dark brown and white markings including white costal area near wing base, dark streaks along veins, and white spot in cell. Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia undulosa WO, Waved Sphinx: Fw upperside pale brownish gray (occasionally dark) with wavy black and white lines and black-outlined white cell spot. Lapara bombycoides WO, Northern Pine Sphinx: Gray with heavy black bands. Hindwing brownish gray with no markings. If you have pines, you probably have this species. Lintneria eremitus WO, Hermit Sphinx: Fw upperside gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, one or two small white spots near center of costa. Hw upperside: black with two white bands and triangular black patch at base. Note golden hair on thorax. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, Five-spotted Hawkmoth: Flies over tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. possibility Sphinx canadensis WO, Canadian Sphinx: Uncommon, not often reported anywhere. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, Northern Ash Sphinx, Great Ash Sphinx: Soft dark gray to blue-gray with series of black dashes, one of which reaches wing tip. Sphinx drupiferarum BAMONA, Wild Cherry Sphinx The costal area in the basal and median areas of the forewing is light grey. This colour also appears in the terminal area. The rest of the wing is dark slatey grey. Sphinx gordius WO, Apple Sphinx: Highly variable. Fw fringes mostly black with some white; hw fringes mostly white with few black patches. Fw ranges from brown with black borders to brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, cell spot usually weak. Sphinx kalmiae WO, Laurel Sphinx: Forewings predominantly brownish-yellow with fairly wide dark bar along inner margin. At rest wings hug body, giving moth long slender look. possibility Sphinx luscitiosa WO, Canadian Sphinx, Clemen's Sphinx: Fw yellowish gray in males; pale gray with faint yellow tint in females. Dark border on outer margin widens as it approaches inner margin. Hw deep yellow in males, pale yellow in females; both with wide black border. Sphinx poecila BAMONA, Poecila Sphinx: If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. Probably widespread throughout Wisconsin, but are very much under reported. Sphinx vashti WO, Snowberry Sphinx: Narrow black subterminal line bordered by white inverted V-shaped line on outside, black line running inwards from apex of wing. It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses. Smerinthini Tribe: Pachysphinx modesta male, Deep Lake, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse Smerinthus cerisyi male, Deep Lake, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse Amorpha juglandis BAMONA, Walnut Sphinx: Highly variable; sometimes wings may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have a white or pink tinge. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO/CR, Modest Sphinx, Poplar Sphinx: Large poplar/willow feeder with heavy body. Pachysphinx modesta, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, Celeste Rouse. Pachysphinx occidentalis BAMONA, Big Poplar Sphinx: This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. Moths should be on the wing from June-August. The listing by BAMONA of Pachysphinx occidentalis in Wisconsin is a surprise as it is generally considered to be a much more western species, not beginning to appear until the Dakotas. Paonias excaecata BAMONA, Blinded Sphinx: Fw outer margin quite wavy. Dark cell spot and dark oblique line mid wing from costa almost to inner margin. Basic ground colour pinkish brown. Flight would be June-July. Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx: This small species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. Smerinthus cerisyi WO/CR, Cerisyi's Sphinx, One-eyed Sphinx, Poplars, willows. Flight would be from late May-July as single brood. Note: lower protion of pale "C" at right forewing apex does not reach outer margin. Smerinthus cerisyi, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, Celeste Rouse. Smerinthus jamaicensis BAMONA, Twin-spotted Sphinx: Closely resembles cerisyi, but much smaller with larger blue patch (split in two) on more vibrant and deeper purple in lower wings. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Hemaris thysbe, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse Hemaris thysbe, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse Hemaris thysbe, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse Hemaris thysbe, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse Aellopos titan CR, the Titan Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to other Aellopos species, but the upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. rare stray Aellopos titan, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Celeste Rouse, August 12, 2021 See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris diffinis WO, Snowberry Clearwing: Flies along forest edges, meadows, gardens, brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc. Hemaris gracilis WO, Slender Clearwing, Graceful Clearwing: Day flier not commonly reported. Generally it is reported more to the east. Hemaris thysbe BAMONA/CR, Hummingbird Clearwing: Not difficult to see why many gardeners would mistake this moth for small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through a long feeding tube (proboscis). Hemaris thysbe, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, Celeste Rouse. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, Achemon Sphinx: Adults nectar from flowers of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), petunia (Petunia hybrida), mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius), phlox (Phlox). Eumorpha pandorus WO, Pandorus Sphinx: If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have pandorus. I often get asked to identify larvae from areas not previously been reported. achemon and pandorus generally more southerly Macroglossini Tribe: Hyles lineata Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse. Hyles lineata Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse. Hyles lineata Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, courtesy of Celeste Rouse. Amphion floridensis WO, Nessus Sphinix: This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you might have the Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus WO, Azalea Sphinx: You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Darapsa myron WO, Virginia Creeper Sphinx, Grapevine Sphinx: It is widely reported in southern Michigan and in southern Ontario. It may be present, although unlikely. Deidamia inscriptum WO, Lettered Sphinx: It is seen in southern Ontario, however, and in central and southern Wisconsin and usualy more southerly. Hyles euphorbiae WO, Spurge Hawk Moth: Body light brown with various white and dark brown markings, while wings have conspicuous tan, brown, pink or red color pattern. Hyles gallii WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth, Gallium Sphinx: Hyles lineata BAMONA/CR, White-lined Sphinx: Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, and at dawn, but they also fly during the day over a wide variety of open habitats including deserts, suburbs, and gardens. Hyles lineata, Deep Lake, Sarona, Washburn County, Wisconsin, Celeste Rouse. Sphecodina abbottii WO, Abbott's Sphinx: This moth is very much under reported on USGS. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host.

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.

Eggs of many North American species are offered during the spring and summer. Occasionally summer Actias luna and summer Antheraea polyphemus cocoons are available. Shipping to US destinations is done from with in the US.

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