The Sphingidae of Saskatchewan

This website is designed and maintained by Bill Oehlke. Please send sightings (date, location, species) and/or images to Bill.

List adapted by Bill Oehlke from North Dakota and Montana lists. ?? means I have no confirmed reports; I just suspect the species (Amorpha juglandis, Eumorpha achemon) may be there.

Starred items (**) have been confirmed by Cedric Gillott, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan.

Pounded items (##) are from Rev. Ron Hooper, courtesy of Gary Anweiler, Alberta Lepidopterists' Guild.

Hyles euphorbiae, Swift Current, Saskatchewan,
courtesy of Marnie Kay-Macmillan, July 31, 2007

Marnie writes, "A friend found these caterpillars on a shrub in their yard – they nearly defoliated the entire shrub. We live in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, which is in the south west corner of Saskatchewan. Can you tell from the picture what type of caterpillar it is?"

Hyles euphorbiae red form, on leafy spurge, Zehner (12 miles NE of Regina), Saskatchewan, courtesy of Dave Fries.

Hyles euphorbiae yellow form, on leafy spurge, Zehner (12 miles NE of Regina), Saskatchewan, courtesy of Dave Fries.

Ceratomia amyntor, fifth instar, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
October 5, 2008, courtesy of Doug Freestone.

Doug Freestone of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan writes (October 5, 2008), "Attached is a photo I took this morning of a caterpillar that was climbing a 4x4 post on my front deck. I have not seen one of these before and would like some help to identify it.

"This caterpillar was about 6 cm long and about 1 cm diameter. It was cool and rainy (14C) this AM and he was not moving too quickly, but 30 minutes later he had disappeared.

"I am located 25 km SW of Saskatoon, SK.

"TIA for any help."

I replied, "It is Ceratomia amyntor, the Four-horned Sphinx also know as the Elm Sphinx. I would like permission to use image with credit to you on my Saskatchewan Sphingidae page."

"Permission granted with thanks, Bill. We live on an acreage SW of Saskatoon.

"Are these common in this location? Seems to me (a lay person) that it's a bit late in the year for these creatures to be wandering around. We have had just one very light frost to date, but the first "killing frost" of the season is overdue."

Yes, it is late in the season. It might just be a late caterpillar that probably would not make it through if you had had a hard earlier frost. Another possiblity is that the larva has been parasitized. The internal parasite larva secrete a hormone that keeps the caterpillar growing and feeding beyond its normal limit so the parasitic larvae have enough food to take them through their larval stage. It's a bug eat bug world out there.

The larvae depicted is mature and has probalby crawled to the soil where it will excavate a subterranean chamber in which to pupate.

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

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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, giant silkmoth cocoons. The cocoons are available in the fall and winter moths. The large and showy moths will emerge in spring and summer. Online help is available.