Gwinnett County, Georgia, and Nearby Counties:
Cherokee, DeKalb and Hall
Sphingidae

Agrius cingulata, Lilburn, Gwinnett County, Georgia,
approaching ginger, 8:45 pm, September 22, 2008, courtesy of Jim Lallement.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Jim Lallement (JL) who sent me the Agrius cingulata image, (top of page) from Gwinnett County.

Jim writes, "Last night at 8:45 (September 22, 2008), one of these beautiful moths was going all around my ginger in Lilburn, GA. The ginger is in bloom. This is northeast Atlanta, near Stone Mountain. I will try to send a picture tonight."

On October 12, 2008, Jim adds, "We were doing some work outside last night until late and our moth returned to the ginger plants, around 8:30pm."

It is amazing to watch these large moths, feeding tube extended, hovering over evening blooms as they drink the energy rich nectar. They are great pollinators, and are especially fond of ginger and mooonflowers in the southern states.

Thirty-six Sphingidae species are listed for Georgia on the U.S.G.S. website (now Baona). Some of them are tropical strays into the more southerly counties. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Gwinnett County (No species are reported on U.S.G.S. as of September 24, 2008). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Gwinnett County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present.

A "USGS" indicates the moth is reported on the USGS website and/or in Lepidoptera of North America, #1. Distribution of Silkmoths (Saturniidae) and Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) of Eastern North America, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an electronic image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

Although this page was originally developed for Gwinnett County, I believe it is also valid for nearby counties: Cherokee, DeKalb and Hall, and have indicated those species for those counties as per BAMONA chacklists.

The night-blooming moon flower will attract many Sphingidae at dusk and into the night. Ginger is also popular with Agrius cingulata.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, JL Pink-spotted hawkmoth. Strong migrant; adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). Agrius cingulata, Lilburn, nectaring at ginger, 8:45 pm September 22, 2008; 8:30pm Ocotber 12, 2008, Jim Lallement Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx. Forewing upperside brown with dark brown & white markings including white costal area near wing base, dark streaks along veins, and white spot in cell. Larvae: Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae WO, Catalpa Sphinx. Foerwing upperside yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines & dashes. Gray cell spot with black outline. Larvae feed in large groups, much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa WO/DeKalb/Cherokee, Waved Sphinx. Forewing upperside pale brownish gray with wavy black & white lines & a black-outlined white cell spot. Lower wing gray with diffuse darker bands. Dolba hyloeus WO, 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. Lapara coniferarum WO/DeKalb, Southern Pine Sphinx. Forewing is gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. Hindwing is a uniform brown-gray. If you've got pines, this species is likely present. Lintneria eremitus WO, Hermit Sphinx: Forewing gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, & one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. Hindwing is black with two white bands and a triangular black patch at the base. Note the golden hair on the thorax. Manduca jasminearum WO, Ash Sphinx. Forewing gray to grayish brown with black line running from middle of costa to middle of outer margin; line may be broken near margin. Splash of brown around the cell spot. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, Five-spotted Hawkmoth. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata. Manduca rustica WO/DeKalb, Rustic Sphinx. Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. Forewing yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with dusting of white scales & zigzagged black & white lines. Manduca sexta WO/Cherokee, Carolina Sphinx. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in the larval stage. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Paratrea plebeja WO, Plebeian Sphinx Forewing is 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. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, Wild Cherry Sphinx. Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. Sphinx franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth. Costal half of forewings are grey, but posterior portion is distinctive warm yellowish-brown; boundary between these two areas marked with series of dark diagonal streaks. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks dark bar along fw inner margin. 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. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO/DeKalb, Walnut Sphinx. Adults highly variable; sometimes wings of an individual may be 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. See file for female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx. Paonias astylus WO/Cherokee, Huckleberry Sphinx. Paonias astylus flies from March-September in Florida and from April-September in Louisiana. There is one brood northward from June-August. This appears to be an uncommon species. Paonias excaecata WO, Blinded Sphinx. Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution in the eastern United States. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx. Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Wakulla County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Aellopos titan WO, Titan Sphinx. possible stray Body dark brown with wide white stripe across abdomen. Wings dark brown. Upperside of hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. Enyo lugubris, Mournful Sphinx, WO possible stray Body & wings dark brown. Forewing: 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. See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in Bibb County, but it may be present. unlikely Hemaris thysbe WO/DeKalb, Hummingbird Clearwing. It is 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 a long feeding tube. Hemaris diffinis WO/DW/DeKalb/Cherokee, Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth. 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. Look for black legs! Hemaris diffinis October 20, 2021, Dennis White Philampelini tribe: 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. Eumorpha pandorus WO/DeKalb/Cherokee, 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. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis WO/DeKalb, Nessus Sphinix. Day flier; widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus WO, the 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. Darapsa myron WO, 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. Darapsa versicolor WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the Hydrangea Sphinx. Deidamia inscriptum WO, Lettered Sphinx Forewing outer margin deeply scalloped. Upperside light brown with dark brown markings. Small black &d white spot near tip. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. Hyles lineata WO, White-lined Sphinx. This species has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. Proserpinus guarae WO, Proud Sphinx. Rare,possibly endangered Proud Sphinx flies from Texas & Louisiana east to northern Florida, north to Alabama, Missouri, northern Georgia, & South Carolina. slight possibility Sphecodina abbottii WO, the 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. Xylophanes tersa WO/Hall/DeKalb, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however, and is probably well established in your area.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

Eggs of many North American species are offered during the spring and summer. Occasionally summer Actias luna and summer Antheraea polyphemus cocoons are available. Shipping to US destinations is done from with in the US.

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