Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Agrius cingulata, WO Pink-spotted hawkmoth,
stray: Strong migrant, adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum),
morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera), petunia (Petunia species).
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Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx, Four-horned Sphinx:
Brown with dark brown and white markings including white costal area near wing base, dark streaks along veins,
white spot in cell. Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). unlikely, more northerly
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Ceratomia catalpae WO, Catalpa Sphinx:
Yellowish brown with no white markings, except indistinct black lines, dashes.
Cell spot gray with lack outline.Larvae feed in large groups, much more
spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is larval host.
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Ceratomia undulosa WO, Waved Sphinx:
Pale brownish gray (sometimes dark) with wavy black, white lines, black-outlined white cell spot.
Hw: gray with diffuse darker bands.
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| Cocytius antaeus, WO Giant Sphinx:
Blurry yellowish gray. Hw dark gray with yellow at base and
dark "tooth" projecting from margin into translucent area
between each vein. unlikely stray
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Dolba hyloeus USGS, 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.
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Isoparce cupressi
WO, Cypress or Baldcypress Sphinx:
Rare, flies in Cypress swamps in Georgia (specimen type locality), and from Maryland to Texas.
It has been reported in Mexico.
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Lapara coniferarum USGS, Southern Pine Sphinx:
Gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near wing center; other
markings usually diffuse. Hw uniform brown-gray.
If you've got pines, likely present.
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Manduca jasminearum WO, Ash Sphinx:
Gray to grayish brown with a black line
running from the middle of the costa to the middle of the outer
margin; the line may be broken near the margin. There is a splash of
brown around the cell spot.
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If you grow tomatoes, you might encounter Manduca quinquemaculatus.
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Manduca rustica WO, Rustic Sphinx:
Three large yellow spots on each side of abdomen. Yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with a dusting of white
scales and zigzagged black and white lines.
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Manduca sexta WO, Carolina Sphinx:
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in larval stage.
Larvae can strip a tomato plant. |
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Paratrea plebeja WO, Plebeian Sphinx:
Gray with indistinct black and white markings. There is a series of black dashes
from the base to the tip, and a small white cell spot.
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Sphinx gordius WO, 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.
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Sphinx kalmiae WO, 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.
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Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis USGS, Walnut Sphinx:
Highly variable; sometimes wings all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to
dark brown, may have white or pink tinge. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. Female: different.
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Pachysphinx modesta WO, Modest Sphinx, Poplar Sphinx:
They are common on Prince Edward Island, and are
remote possibility for Brevard County. |
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Paonias excaecata WO, Blinded Sphinx:
Named for dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in hindwing.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as southern Florida. |
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Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx:
Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide
distribution. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as southern Florida.
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Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, Twin-spotted Sphinx:
This moth is widely distributed and fairly common. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. slight possibility
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
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Aellopos tantalus USGS, Tantalus Sphinx:
Body reddish brown with wide white band across abdomen.
Fw: reddish brown with black cell spot, 3 white spots near gray marginal area. Pale streak runs from cell to inner margin.
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Enyo lugubris, Mournful Sphinx:
WO Body, wings: dark brown. Fw has large black patch covering most of outer half of wing. Pale
tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), fairly straight median line to inside of cell spot.
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The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with short yellowish
streaks on the forward half and wavy yellowish bands on the rear
half.
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Erinnyis ello DP, Ello Sphinx:
Abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. Female's
fw pale gray with afew dark dots near outer
margin.
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Erinnyis ello larva, Indialantic, October 15, 2008; moth, November 10, 2008, Donna Peters.
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Erinnyis obscura, Obscure Sphinx, WO:
During the night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet
(Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk.
July and August are flight times in the southern states.
possibility
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See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish
the next three species.
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Hemaris thysbe
WO, Hummingbird Clearwing: Not difficult to see why many gardeners would mistake an
Hemaris thysbe moth for a small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through long feeding tube.
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Hemaris diffinis WO, Snowberry Clearwing:
Adults mimic bumblebees, quite variable. Wings: basically clear, with dark brown to
brownish-orange veins, bases, edges. Thorax golden-brown to
dark greenish-brown. Abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2
yellow segments before tip. unlikely
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Hemaris gracilis WO, Slender Clearwing, Graceful Clearwing:
Day-flying moth, less common.
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Phryxus caicus, Caicus Sphinx, USGS:
The abdomen of the Caicus sphinx has distinct black and tan bands.
Forewing is brown with a tan band along the
inner margin and a thin tan streak in middle of wing. stray
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Philampelini tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon WO, Achemon Sphinx:
Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper.
Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx.
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Eumorpha fasciatus USGS/MT, Banded Sphinx:
Dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has
lighter brown band along costa, sharp pinkish white bands and
streaks. Primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose)
and other plants in evening primrose family.
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Eumorpha fasciatus, Merritt Island, September, 24, 2015, Margherite Tercovich
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Eumorpha intermedia WO, Intermediate Sphinx:
Flies in lower austral and subtropical lowlands in North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Texas.
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Eumorpha labruscae WO, Gaudy Sphinx:
The Gaudy Sphinx flies in America, and although primarily a tropical
species, it has been taken as far north as Saskatchewan as a stray. possible stray
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Eumorpha pandorus WO, 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 not previously reported.
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Eumorpha vitis WO, Vine Sphinx:
The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a
lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands
and streaks. possible stray
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Macroglossini tribe:
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Amphion floridensis WO, 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.
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Darapsa choerilus WO, Azalea Sphinx:
The lower wings of this hawkmoth are a solid brownish-orange,
matching the body colour. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature.
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Darapsa myron WO, Virginia Creeper Sphinx, Grapevine Sphinx: If you have the
foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this
species nearby. The lower wings are orange.
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Darapsa versicolor WO, Hydrangea Sphinx:
If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the Hydrangea Sphinx.
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Hyles lineata WO, White-lined Sphinx:
Dark olive brown with paler brown along costa and outer margin, narrow tan band running from wing tip
to the base, white streaks along veins.
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Sphecodina abbottii WO, Abbott's Sphinx:
This moth is very much under reported across the United States. It
is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections.
Grape is a popular larval host. unlikely, more northerly
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Xylophanes tersa USGS, Tersa Sphinx:
The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and
has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout.
This moth is a strong migrant.
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