Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, July 28, 2009

Will County, Illinois
Sphingidae

Agrius cingulata, Will County, October 8, 2007, courtesy of William Bennett,
slight digital repair to right side of thorax by Bill Oehlke.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to William Bennett and his family. Will sent me the Agrius cingulata images, top and bottom of this page.

Will writes, "My family and I just came across the largest moth that we have ever seen - at least live and in person.

"Luckily, I did have my digital camera with me at the time, so I snapped a bunch of photos. After looking at the identification guides, I am positive that it is a Pink-Spotted Hawkmoth.

"We live in Plainfield, Illinois (suburb of Chicago), and I was just wondering if this would be rare for this species of moth to be here?

"This isn't a native - or even close - species, is it? If not, was it probably migrating, or perhaps somehow found its way (as an invasive species type of occurrence)?"

I wrote back: "William,

I am getting sightings of them all over eastern U.S. now from Carolinas, Kentucky, New York, Illinois, etc. Must be a fall migration in full swing after a good growing season further south. Warm weather is probably also playing a part. Thanks for thinking of me."

Will responded: "We actually spotted the moth indoors in the viewing area of the local horse barn on the wooden floor. It must have flown in. So it wouldn't get stepped on, we allowed it to climb on a stick and moved it outdoors.

"We are in Will County.

"We also have a couple of Wooly Bear caterpillars that we are trying to take care of over the fall and winter - my daughter is just fascinated.

"And, we found a caterpillar that I couldn't find in any Illinois caterpillar listings, which changed into a cocoon/pupa already after 1 day. I'm not sure if that will make it though. The closest type I found was possibly a Sphingidae.

"Thanks for the reply."

Special thanks also to Don Haberkamp who sends this beautiful image of Hemaris thysbe from New Lenox, July 27, 2009.

Hemaris thysbe, New Lenox, Will County, Illinois, July 27, 2009, courtesy of Don Haberkamp.

Joseph Paleczny sends this beautiful image of Hemaris thysbe from Plainfield Township near intersection of Theodore and Drauden, 7:35pm, July 12, 2010.

Hemaris thysbe, Plainfield Township, Will County, Illinois,
July 12, 2010, courtesy of Joseph Paleczny.

Forty-two Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Illinois. Not all of the species are reported (eight by USGS as of October 2007) in Will 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 Cook 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.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, WB Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray

This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species).

Ceratomia amyntor USGS, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx
The upperside of the forewing is brown with dark brown and white markings including a white costal area near the wing base, dark streaks along the veins, and a white spot in the cell. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).

Ceratomia catalpae USGS, 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 or 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 WO, 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.

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 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 USGS, the Carolina Sphinx

The upperside of the hindwing is 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 get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Paratrea plebeja WO, the 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, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might possibly be present in Cook County.

Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). unlikely

Sphinx chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or 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, the 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, the Poecila Sphinx

If you have blueberries in the woods, then you might have the Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island, but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts, being replaced by Sphinx gordius in Connecticut.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis WO, the 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, the 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 WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx,

This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump.

Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the 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, the 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. possible stray

Erinnyis ello WO, the Ello Sphinx
The abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. The female's forewing upperside is pale gray with a few dark dots near the outer margin. The male's forewing upperside is dark gray and brown with a black band running from the base to the tip. possible 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. possible stray

See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species.

Hemaris diffinis USGS, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth,

The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc.

Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing
Hemaris gracilis is distinguished from similar species by a pair of red-brown bands on the undersides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. questionable

Hemaris thysbe USGS/DH/JP, the Hummingbird Clearwing

This interesting day flier is confirmed for Will County, and is likely common.

They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida.

Hemaris thysbe, New Lenox, July 27, 2009, Don Haberkamp.
Hemaris thysbe, Plainfield Township, July 12, 2010, Joseph Paleczny.

Philampelini Tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx

This moth is not confirmed for Will 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 WO, the 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, the 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, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Cook County, and it is 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, the Hydrangea Sphinx

If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx.

However, it probably is uncommon.

Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx

The moth's outer margin of the forewing is deeply scalloped. The upperside is light brown with dark brown markings. There is a small black and white spot near the tip. The upperside of the hindwing is orange-brown with a dark brown outer margin and median line.

Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx

This species is not confirmed in Will County, but I think it might be present.

Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not.

Hyles lineata USGS, the 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, the 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.

Agrius cingulata, Will County, October 8, 2007, courtesy of William Bennett.

When William Bennett sent the images top and bottom of this page, he mentioned he felt the moth might have been injured due to some "fur/hair" removal from the dorsal thorax. I did some digital repair, masking that imperfection in the image above. Will also mentioned the moth was found on the floor of the barn.

In the image above there is another indication of injury. The coiled proboscis, or feeding tube, which can be uncoiled/extended to a length of many inches to reach the nectar in deep throated flowers, is not in its usual resting position. Normally the coil is scarcely visible, but remains hidden between tufts of fur/hair on the underside of the thorax.

Possibly this moth was attacked in its evening flight by an owl or bat, and was then dropped to the barn floor.

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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Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.


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