Cook County, Illinois
Sphingidae

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, USGS 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). Ceratomia amyntor USGS, Elm Sphinx; Four-horned Sphinx: Fw upperside: 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), cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae WO, the Catalpa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The cell spot is gray with a black outline and the upperside of the hindwing is yellowish brown with obscure lines. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia hageni WO, Hagen's Sphinx; Osage Orange Sphinx: The upperside of the forewing is gray with a green tint and has dark indistinct wavy lines, and pale gray patches at the wing tip and along the costa. generally a more southerly species Ceratomia undulosa USGS, Waved Sphinx: The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot. Dolba hyloeus USGS, the 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. Larve are not limited to pawpaw. Lapara bombycoides WO, the Northern Pine Sphinx: The upperside of the forewing is gray with heavy black bands. The upperside of the hindwing is brownish gray with no markings. If you have pines, you might have this species. It flies on P.E.I. Lintneria eremitus USGS, the Hermit Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. Manduca jasminearum WO, the Ash Sphinx: The upperside of forewing is 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. Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth: This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. Manduca sexta USGS, Carolina Sphinx: Hw upperside: banded with black and white; has two black zigzag median lines that are very close together with hardly any white showing between them. Larvae can strip a tomato plant. Neococytius cluentius, USGS Cluentius sphinx, stray: Fw upperside: blurry black with orange markings. Hw upperside: black with orange at base and orangish yellow patches between veins, forming a band across wing. Paratrea plebeja WO, Plebeian Sphinx: The upperside of the 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 canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx, uncommon, not often reported anywhere, but it might be present in Cook County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana), blueberry (Vaccinium). unlikely Sphinx chersis USGS, 9 Northern Ash Sphinx; Great Ash Sphinx: The upperside of the forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. Sphinx drupiferarum USGS, the Wild Cherry Sphinx: Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. Sphinx gordius WO, Apple Sphinx: Colouration and markings are highly variable from one specimen to another. The fringes on forewing are mostly black with some white; those on the hindwing are mostly white with a few black patches. Sphinx kalmiae USGS, the 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. Sphinx luscitiosa USGS, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with a faint yellow tint in females. In both sexes, the dark border on the outer margin widens as it approaches the inner margin. Sphinx poecila USGS, Poecila Sphinx: If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island, but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis USGS, Walnut Sphinx: The adults are also highly variable; sometimes wings of an individual may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have a white or pink tinge. See the file for the female; she is different. Paonias excaecata USGS, Blinded Sphinx: The outer margin of the forewing is quite wavy. There is a dark cell spot and a dark oblique line mid wing from the costa almost to the inner margin. Basic ground colour is pinkish brown. Flight would be June-July. Paonias myops USGS, the Small-eyed Sphinx This small species is probably widespread and common. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. Pachysphinx modesta USGS, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, Cerisyi's Sphinx;r One-eyed Sphinx: Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as single brood. generally more northerly species Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, Twin-spotted Sphinx: This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and it is recorded in Ingham. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Aellopos titan USGS, Titan Sphinx: The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to above species, but the upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. stray Erinnyis ello USGS, Ello Sphinx: Abdomen: very distinct gray and black bands. Female's fw upperside: pale gray with few dark dots near outer margin. Male's fw upperside: dark gray and brown with black band running from base to tip. stray Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, USGS: 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. stray See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris diffinis USGS, Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth: Flies along forest edges, in meadows, gardens, brushy fields. Day-flyers nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc. Hemaris gracilis WO, Slender Clearwing; Graceful Clearwing: Distinguished from similar species by pair of red-brown bands on undersides of thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. questionable Hemaris thysbe USGS, Hummingbird Clearwing: This interesting day flier is confirmed for Cook, and is likely common. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon USGS, Achemon Sphinx: This moth is confirmed for Cook County. It is fairly often reported along the east coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha pandorus USGS, 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 where they have not previously been reported. Macroglossini Tribe: Amphion floridensis USGS/BEM, 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. Amphion floridensis, City Escape Gardening Center, Lake and Sacramento, Chicago, May 30, 2010, Beth Ellen McNamara Darapsa choerilus USGS, the Azalea Sphinx They are common in New Jersey and common here on Prince Edward Island. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Darapsa myron USGS, Virginia Creeper Sphinx; Grapevine Sphinx: Probably common. It is widely reported as far north as southern Maine. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. Darapsa versicolor USGS, Hydrangea Sphinx: If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have Hydrangea Sphinx. However, it probably is uncommon. Deidamia inscriptum USGS, Lettered Sphinx: Fw outer margin: deeply scalloped. Upperside: light brown with dark brown markings. Small black and white spot near tip. The upperside of the hindwing is orange-brown with a dark brown outer margin and median line. Hyles gallii USGS, Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx: This species is confirmed in Cook County. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata USGS/GTJ, White-lined Sphinx: Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, and at dawn, but they also fly during the day over a wide variety of open habitats including deserts, suburbs, and gardens. Hyles lineata, Park Forest, August 30, 2013, Gordon T. Johnson Sphecodina abbottii WO, Abbott's Sphinx: This moth is very much under reported on USGS. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host. 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.