Created/dedicated as per personal communication with Julie Christiansen, (Hemaris thysbe), August 24, 2005
Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, September 26, 2013
Updated as per BAMONA, September 26, 2013

McHenry County, Illinois
Sphingidae

Hemaris thysbe, nectaring at butterfly bush,
courtesy of Julie Christiansen, August 24, 2005.

Forty-four Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS (now BAMONA) for Illinois. Not all of the species are reported (twenty by USGS/BAMONA as of September, 2013) in McHenry County in northeastern Illinois. 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 McHenry 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.

Visit McHenry County Sphingidae: Larvae (caterpillars).

Visit Illinois Catocala: Underwing Moths.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, WO Pink-spotted hawkmoth, possible stray: Strong migrant; adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera), (Petunia species).

Ceratomia amyntor USGS, Elm Sphinx, Four-horned Sphinx: Brown with dark brown, 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, Catalpa Sphinx: Yellowish brown with no white markings, indistinct black lines and dashes. Cell spot gray with black outline; hindwing: yellowish brown with obscure lines. Catalpa .

Ceratomia hageni WO, Hagen's Sphinx, Osage Orange Sphinx: Gray with green tint; dark indistinct wavy lines, pale gray patches at wing tip and along costa. generally a more southerly species; unlikely

Ceratomia undulosa USGS, Waved Sphinx: Pale brownish gray (sometimes dark) with wavy black and white lines, black-outlined white cell spot.

Dolba hyloeus WO, Pawpaw Sphinx: 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, Northern Pine Sphinx: Gray with heavy black bands. Hw: brownish gray with no markings. If you have pines, you might have this species.

Lintneria eremitus USGS, 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, Ash Sphinx: Gray to grayish brown witha black line running from middle of costa to middle of outer margin; line may be broken near margin. Splash of brown around cell spot.

Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS, Five-spotted Hawkmoth: 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 and has two black zigzag median lines that are very close together with hardly any white showing between them. Larvae can strip tomato plant.

Neococytius cluentius, WO Cluentius sphinx: unlikely stray, but possible 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: Gray with indistinct black and white markings. Series of black dashes from the base to the tip, and a small white cell spot.

Sphinx canadensis WO, Canadian Sphinx: Uncommon, not often reported anywhere, but it might possibly be present. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). unlikely

Sphinx chersis USGS, Northern Ash Sphinx, Great Ash Sphinx: Soft dark gray to blue-gray with series of black dashes, one of which reaches wing tip.

Sphinx drupiferarum USGS, Wild Cherry Sphinx: Forewings, long and slender, held close to body when 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 highly variable. Fw fringes mostly black with some white; those on hw mostly white with few black patches.

Sphinx kalmiae WO, Laurel Sphinx: Lower fws predominantly brownish-yellow with fairly wide dark bar along inner margin. At rest wings hug body, giving the moth long slender look.

Sphinx luscitiosa WO, Canadian Sphinx, Clemen's Sphinx: Yellowish gray in males and pale gray with faint yellow tint in females. Dark border on the outer margin widens as it approaches inner margin.

Sphinx poecila USGS, Poecila Sphinx: If you have blueberries, then you probably have poecila. Outer wing fringes checkered black and white on dark grey fw, almost pure white (lightly checked with grey) on hw. White forewing cell spot.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis USGS, Walnut Sphinx: Highly variable; sometimes wings may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have a white or pink tinge. Female is different.

Paonias excaecata USGS, Blinded Sphinx: Fw outer margin quite wavy. Dark cell spot and dark oblique line mid wing from costa almost to inner margin. Basic ground colour is pinkish brown. Flight would be June-July.

Paonias myops WO, 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, Modest Sphinx, Poplar Sphinx: This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump.

Smerinthus cerisyi WO, Cerisyi's Sphinx, One-eyed Sphinx: Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Questionable, generally more northerly species

Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, Twin-spotted Sphinx: Note pale apical arc makes a complete "C", with lower point reacing outer margin. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida.

Macroglossinae subfamily


Dilophonotini Tribe:

Aellopos titan WO, Titan Sphinx: Body dark brown with wide white stripe across abdomen. Wings dark brown. Hindwing has pale patches along costa and inner margin. rare stray

Erinnyis ello USGS, Ello Sphinx: Abdomen: very distinct gray and black bands. Female's fw pale gray with few dark dots near outer margin. Male's fw dark gray, brown with black band running from base to tip. stray

Erinnyis obscura, Obscure Sphinx: WO, At night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk. July- August flight times in southern states. rare stray

See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species.

Hemaris diffinis USGS, Snowberry Clearwing: Flies along forest edges, in meadows, gardens,d brushy fields. Day-flying adults 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, sometimes brown with white underneath. questionable

Hemaris thysbe USGS, Hummingbird Clearwing: 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 McHenry County. It is fairly often reported along the east coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine.

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 not previously been reported.

Macroglossini Tribe:

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.

Darapsa choerilus WO, Azalea Sphinx: You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Lower wings solid brownish-orange, matching body colour.

Darapsa myron USGS, Virginia Creeper Sphinx, Grapevine Sphinx: If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have Myron. Dark rectangular patch on the costal margin, may be reduced or absent. Hw: pale orange.

Darapsa versicolor WO, Hydrangea Sphinx: If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have versicolor; uncommon. Greenish-brown with curved dark lines, pinkish-white patches

Deidamia inscriptum USGS, Lettered Sphinx: Fw outer margin deeply scalloped, light brown with dark brown markings. Small black and white spot near tip. Hw: orange-brown with dark brown outer margin and median line.

Hyles gallii WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth, Gallium Sphinx: Dark brown with slightly irregular cream-coloured transverse line. Outer margin grey. Bright pink hindwing band.

Hyles lineata USGS, White-lined Sphinx: Usually fly at dusk, during night, and at dawn, but also fly during the day over wide variety of open habitats including deserts, suburbs, and gardens.

Sphecodina abbottii WO, Abbott's Sphinx: Adults mimic bumblebees, buzzing when feeding. Wing margins scalloped. Fw: dark brown with light brown bands, markings. Hw: yellow with wide black outer margin.

Xylophanes tersa WO, Tersa Sphinx: Pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Hindwing dark brown with band of whitish, wedge-shaped marks.

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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