Created/dedicated as per personal communication with Annette Marie Kiefer, October 7, 2021
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, October 7, 2021
Updated as per BAMONA, October 7, 2021

Kankakee County, Illinois
Sphingidae

Manduca sexta, Kankakee County, Illinois, courtesy of Annette Marie Kiefer

Forty-five Sphingidae species are listed on BAMONA for Illinois as of October 7, 2021. Not all of the species are reported (only four by USGS (now BAMONA) as of October 7, 2021) in Kankakee County in northeastern Illinois: Ceratomia undulosa Waved sphinx; Hyles lineata White-lined Sphinx; Eumorpha pandorus Pandorus Sphinx; Hemaris diffinis Snowberry Clearwing. I have added some species which I feel may be present (at least occasionally).

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you have encountered.

A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Kankakee County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that these moths are present.

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

Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

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).

Ceratomia amyntor WO, 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 BAMONA the 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 AMK, 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.

Larvae and adults confirmed by Annette Marie Kiefer, 2021

Neococytius cluentius, WO 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, 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, 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. stray

See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species.

Hemaris diffinis BAMONA, 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 WO, 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 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 BAMONA, 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 WO/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.

Darapsa choerilus WO, 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 WO, 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 WO, Hydrangea Sphinx: If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have Hydrangea Sphinx. However, it probably is uncommon.

Deidamia inscriptum WO, 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 WO, 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 BAMONA, 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.

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 WO, Tersa Sphinx: The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout.

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 within the US.

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