SMERINTHUS JAMAICENSIS,
THE TWIN-SPOTTED SPHINX

Male Smerinthus jamaicensis moth by Bill Oehlke

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Family: Sphingidae Subfamily: Sphinginae Genus: Smerinthus (Latreille, 1802)was Sphinx........ Species: jamaicensis (Drury, 1773)

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DISTRIBUTION:

Smerinthus jamaicensis, the Twin-spotted Sphinx (wingspan 60-85 mm), is widely distributed across North America and is found everywhere except in the deep South and the southern half of western California.

I took the first male Smerinthus jamaicenis of season at a light on June 1, 2000, in Montague, P.E.I.. Weather has been very cool and wet.

Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in lower wings.

FLIGHT TIMES:

The Twin-spotted sphinx is single brooded in the northern portions of its range with moths on the wing from early June to early August.

In the southern portions of its range there are two broods with jamaicensis moths on the wing from late May through November.

ECLOSION:

Moths eclose at night from subterranean pupae which have wiggled to the surface.

SCENTING AND MATING:

The females call the same night and pairing can last for up to twenty hours.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Pale green eggs are deposited singly or in pairs on host plant foliage. Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries, but are expecially fond of poplars and willows.

Photo courtesy of David L. Wagner

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