Sphingidae of Hawaii

Of the twelve species/subspecies that I have listed for Hawaii, only two (Agrius cingulata and Hyles lineata) are also found on the continental United States.

Manduca blackburni, Tinostoma smaragditis, Hyles calida calida, Hyles calida hawaiiensis, Hyles wilsoni perkinsi and Hyles wilsoni wilsoni are endemic species/subspecies (found only on Hawaii).

The other four species are more closely associated with Asian/Australian fauna: Deilephila nerii, Macroglossum pyrrhostictum, Psilogramma menephron and Theretra nessus.

I have used images and information primarily from Tony Pittaway's websites as well as Don Herbison-Evans website to shape the pages linked below.

Agrius cingulata (Fabricius, 1775); Pink-spotted Hawk Moth

Deilephila nerii (Linnaeus, 1758); Oleander Hawk Moth

Hyles calida calida (Butler, 1881); Hawaiian Sphinx

Hyles calida hawaiiensis (Rothschild & Jordan, 1915)

Hyles lineata (Fabricius, 1775); White-lined Sphinx

Hyles perkinsi (Swezey, 1920); Perkins' Sphinx

Hyles wilsoni (Rothschild, 1894); Wilson's Sphinx

Macroglossum pyrrhosticta Butler, 1875; Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Manduca blackburni (Butler, 1880); Blackburn's Sphinx

Psilogramma menephron (Cramer, 1780); Gray Hawk Moth; Privet Hawk Moth

Theretra nessus (Drury, 1773); Yam Hawk Moth

Tinostoma smaragditis (Meyrick, 1899); Green Sphinx

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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.

Deilephila nerii, Waikoloa, Hawaii, January 18, 2007,
courtesy of Michael F. O'Brien

Waikoloa is on the western and leeward/dry side of Hawaii's Big Island. The above images are of the same moth. One image is taken under incandescent lighting while the other is under flourescent lighting. It is interesting to see how different lighting reflects different scale colouration on the wings.

Michael writes, "We do have four constantly blooming oleanders on the property, also Periwinkle (Vinca). And several oleander hedges up and down our street."

Having adult nectar sources and larval hostplants in close proximity is a good way to invite and witness local lepidoptera.

Psilogramma menephron, Mana Road, Waikoloa, Hawaii, January 7, 2007,
courtesy of Michael F. O'Brien

Michael and his wife Arline have also had visits of the Pink-spotted Hawkmoth, and Neal Gary sends the Pink-spotted Hawkmoth larval image below.

Agrius cingulata fifth instar, March 6, 2008, courtesy of Neal Gary.

Neal writes, "I live on the Big Island, just south of Honomolino in south Kona district. I found this 5" larvae feeding on my Turbina corymbosa (Convolvulaceae). It is the third one in two years. Would you please identify it for me. You can use the pic for your web site if you want or I would be willing to disturb the larvae for some better shots if you would like. Too bad it's in its final (I'm assuming) instar."

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