Eaton County
Sphingidae

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Michigan. Not all of the species are reported (twenty-one by USGS) or anticipated in Eaton County. I have added numerous species which I feel may be present, in addition to Eumorpha pandorus reported by Harry D. King.

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 Eaton County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that these moths are present.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Harry D. King who sent me sighting data for and images of Eumorpha pandorus, top and bottom of this page..

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.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia amyntor USGS, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing is brown with dark brown and white markings including a white costal area near the wing base, dark streaks along the veins, and a white spot in the cell. The upperside of the hindwing is light brown and has a dark brown band along the outer margin. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae USGS, the Catalpa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The cell spot is gray with a black outline and the upperside of the hindwing is yellowish brown with obscure lines. The body is gray, spindle-shaped, and 30-35mm long. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa USGS, the Waved Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot. The upperside of the hindwing is gray with diffuse darker bands. Some individuals are very dark, almost black, and others are light yellowish brown. Dolba hyloeus USGS, the Pawpaw Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with a dusting of white scales. Some moths have patches of reddish or yellowish brown on the wings. Larve are not limited to pawpaw. Lapara bombycoides WO, the Northern Pine Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray with heavy black bands. The upperside of the hindwing is brownish gray with no markings. If you have pines, you might have this species. It flies on P.E.I. questionable, southern range limit Lintneria eremitus USGS, the Hermit Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing is gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two white bands and a triangular black patch at the base. Note the golden hair on the thorax. Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. Manduca sexta USGS, the Carolina Sphinx This species is now recorded in Ingham, which is just north of its reported range. If you grow tomatoes, you have possibly encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Sphinx canadensis WO, The absence of the white spot on each forewing and the more brownish coloration serve to separate canadensis from S. poecilus. The hindwing fringe also tends to be white on poecilus and checkered brownish on canadensis. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis USGS, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. Sphinx gordius WO, the Apple Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies more to the north. questionable, northern range linmit Sphinx kalmiae WO, the Laurel Sphinx The lower forewings are predominantly brownish-yellow with a fairly wide dark bar along the inner margin. At rest the wings hug the body, giving the moth a long slender look. Sphinx poecila WO, the Poecila Sphinx If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island, but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts, being replaced by Sphinx gordius in Connecticut. questionable, southern range limit Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis USGS, the Walnut Sphinx.The adults are also highly variable; sometimes wings of an individual may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have a white or pink tinge. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta USGS, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, They are a heavy bodied species. Paonias excaecata USGS, the Blinded Sphinx, The outer margin of the forewing is quite wavy. There is a dark cell spot and a dark oblique line mid wing from the costa almost to the inner margin. Basic ground colour is pinkish brown. Flight would be June-July. Paonias myops USGS, the Small-eyed Sphinx This small species is probably widespread and common. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. Smerinthus cerisyi USGS, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Note incomplete pale crescent just below forewing apex. Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and it is recorded in Eaton. Note complete pale crescent just below forewing apex. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Hemaris diffinis USGS, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth, The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc. Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing Hemaris gracilis is distinguished from similar species by a pair of red-brown bands on the sides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. They have a red abdomen. Hemaris thysbe USGS, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is confirmed for Ingham. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not reported for Eaton County, but it should be present. It is fairly often reported along the coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha pandorus HDK, the Pandorus Sphinx If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have this species. I often get asked to identify larvae from areas where they have not previously been reported. Eumorpha pandorus. Lansing, September 9, 1999, Harry D. King. Macroglossini Tribe: Amphion floridensis USGS, the Nessus Sphinix This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus WO, the Azalea Sphinx They are common in New Jersey and common here on Prince Edward Island. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Darapsa myron USGS, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Ingham County. It is widely reported as far north as southern Maine. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. Darapsa versicolor USGS, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. However, it probably is uncommon. Deidamia inscriptum USGS, the Lettered Sphinx The moth's outer margin of the forewing is deeply scalloped. The upperside is light brown with dark brown markings. There is a small black and white spot near the tip. The upperside of the hindwing is orange-brown with a dark brown outer margin and median line. Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is not reported in Eaton, but it might be present. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. questionable, southern range limit Hyles lineata USGS, the 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. Sphecodina abbottii WO, the 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. Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south and east. It is a strong migrant, however, and occasionally strays to Eaton County.

Eumorpha pandorus (verso), Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Eaton County, Michigan,
taken at lights, September 9, 1999, courtesy of Harry D. King.

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

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. Cocoons of the local Saturniidae are sold and shipped while in a dormant state in the fall and winter. Beautiful giant silk moths emerge in spring and summer. Online help is available.