Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
 | Agrius cingulata,
ink-spotted hawkmoth: Larvae feed on plants in the Convolvulaceae family, especially
Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) and in the Solanaceae family, especially (Datura) (jimsonweed) and related plants in the
Americas. There is also a brown form. Look for very large, dark spiracular circles. |
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Ceratomia amyntor, Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx.
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).
There are both green and brown forms. The four horns near the head are diagnostic. |
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Ceratomia catalpae, Catalpa Sphinx.
Young caterpillars feed gregariously on Catalpa species (Catalpa bignoniodes and C. speciosa) in the
Bignoniaceae family, skeletonizing the foliage. Larvae are mostly white in early instars. |
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Ceratomia hageni,
Hagen's Sphinx or Osage Orange Sphinx.
Larvae feed on osage orange (Maclura pomifera), and they have a granulous appearance with variable amounts of purple
along the oblique white stripes.
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Ceratomia undulosa, Waved Sphinx.
Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Quercus, Crataegus and
Chionanthus virginicus are listed as hosts.
In the fifth instar, the spiracular ovals are decidedly red and the
anal horn is off-white to pinkish laterally.
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Dolba hyloeus, Pawpaw Sphinx.
Larvae feed on pawpaw (Asimina triloba), littleleaf sweetfern (Myrica aspleniifolia), possum haw (Ilex decidua), and
inkberry (Ilex glabra) as well as Tall Gallberry Holly (Ilex coriacea).
Louis Handfield reports larvae probably feed on Ilex verticellata in Quebec. |
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Lintneria eremitus, Hermit Sphinx.
Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda fistulosa), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), and sage
(Salvia). Joe Garris of Sussex, New Jersey, reports larvae also feed on Collinsonia canadensis (Canada Horsebalm,
Richweed, Hardhack, Heal-All, Horseweed), and on the houseplant, Coleus. |
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Manduca jasminearum, Ash Sphinx.
Larvae feed on ash in the Fraxinus genus. Syringa (lilac) and Ulmus (elm) have also been reported. |
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Manduca quinquemaculatus, Five-spotted Hawkmoth.
The caterpillars are called Tomato Hornworms and each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen.
Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). |
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Manduca rustica, Rustic Sphinx.
The caterpillar has numerous white nodules on top of the thorax and seven pairs of oblique, blue-gray stripes along the side of the body.
The horn is white at the base and blue-gray at the tip. Many hosts are utilized. |
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Manduca sexta, Carolina Sphinx.
Tobacco Hornworms, equipped with a red-tipped horn at the end of the abdomen, are true gluttons and feed on tobacco and tomato, and
occasionally potato and pepper crops and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). |
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Paratrea plebeja, Plebeian Sphinx. Preferred hosts are common trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans),
Florida yellow-trumpet (Tecoma stans), lilac (Syringa species), and
passionflower (Passiflora species). The anal horn is blue, preceded by a yellow dash. |
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Sphinx canadensis generally more northerly,
Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx. This species is not common at lights, and is not often reported anywhere.
Larval host may be exclusively black ash (Fraxinus nigra).
Variable appearance but always with granulous (darker protrusions) on pinkish horn. |
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Sphinx chersis, Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx:
The larvae are pale bluish green. The head has a pair of yellow lateral bands meeting at the apex. The oblique, lateral stripes are
pale and bordered anteriorly with a darker green. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. slight possibility
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Sphinx drupiferarum, Wild Cherry Sphinx.
Larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night. Larvae have been found on Amelanchier nantuckensis
in Massachusetts and have been reared to pupation in Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines. I use pin cherry on PEI.
slight possibility |
Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis, Walnut Sphinx.
Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans), hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus),
hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya). |
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Paonias astylus, Huckleberry Sphinx.
Blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), cherries (Prunus) and willows (Salix) are the favorites as larval foodplants. |
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Paonias excaecata, Blinded Sphinx.
Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada. The skin is very granulose. |
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Paonias myops, Small-eyed Sphinx.
The larvae depicted is probably third instar. There may be more red spotting on the sides as larvae mature. |
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Smerinthus jamaicensis, Twin-spotted Sphinx.
Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries, but are expecially fond of poplars and willows. Red markings on sides
vary greatly from specimen to specimen. |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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Hemaris thysbe, Hummingbird Clearwing.
There is also an orangey-pink prepupal form. The lateral line runs from S1 to the blue horn.
Hemaris thysbe larvae feed on viburnum and related plants. |
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Hemaris diffinis,
Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth. Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos),
honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane (Apocynum) and dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
Horn is black with a yellow base. |
Philampelini tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon, Achemon Sphinx.
Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies
(Ampelopsis). Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown)
form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines. |
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Eumorpha fasciatus, Banded Sphinx.
Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family. This hornless larva is
highly variable. Look for large, dark spiracular circles and a dark line in the center of the back. |
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Eumorpha pandorus, Pandorus Sphinx.
If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter
this species.Note the five large white ovals. There areorangey-brown and green
forms also.
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Eumorpha pandorus adult moth, Little Rock, August 26, 2014, Shea Halbert
Macroglossini tribe:
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Amphion floridensis,
the Nessus Sphinix.
In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis),
ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum).
Larvae are green until the final instar.
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Darapsa myron, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this
species nearby. The lower wings are orange. Larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),
Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum. |
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Darapsa versicolor, Hydrangea Sphinx.
Larvae turn a deep chocolate brown just prior to pupation, and the
"horn" on the tail also turns downward as pupation draws near.
Darapsa versicolor larvae feed on Smooth hydrangea
(Hydrangea arborescens), buttonbush
(Cephalanthus occidentalis), and waterwillow
(Decodon verticillatus). |
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Deidamia inscriptum, Lettered Sphinx.
Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts.
The alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back
distinguish this larva.
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Hyles lineata, the White-lined Sphinx.
Larvae are highly varied and feed on a great diversity of plants
including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis),
apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm
(Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon),
purslane (Portulaca), and Fuschia. All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by
dorso-lateral lines. |
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Sphecodina abbottii, Abbott's Sphinx.
Larvae feed at night on grape (Vitis) and ampelopsis
(Ampelopsis) and hide on the bark of their host plants during
the day. Virginia creeper would also be a suitable host. There is also a dark form
without the green patches. Note the "raised eye", replacing the anal horn.
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Xylophanes tersa, Tersa Sphinx.
Larvae also feed on Borreria, Catalpa and Manettia spp. and
Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra) and starclusters
(Pentas species). They are also recorded on joe-pie weed and
Hamelia patens and on Hedoydis nigricans. The green form may be more
common.
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