Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and
St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Lafourche, St. Charles and St. John the Baptist
Sphingidae

Agrius cingulata, Marrero, Louisiana, just south of New Orleans,
October 17, 2005, courtesy of Phillis.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Phillis who sent me the images of Agrius cingulata at the top and bottom of this page.

Phillis writes, "I am Phillis from Marrero, Louisiana, just south of New Orleans. We evacuated for the first time in our lives for Hurricane Katrina, and we were some of the lucky ones that had something to come back to. We only had minor damage. Then there was Hurricane Rita. There is destruction all around us, but we are ok. Well, another moth visited my back yard tonight. Take a look."

Best wishes to all the folks in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast States who were hurt so much by Katrina and Rita. May your recovery be speedy.

On October 8, 2008, Phillis writes, "We just went through two hurricanes again, Gustave and Ike. We evacuated for the second time in our lives for Hurricane Gustave, but he hit and devastated the neighboring Terrebonne Parish. And although Hurricane Ike actually targeted Galveston Texas, his tidal surge came all the way to lower Jefferson Parish and flooded the same people again that were flooded by Hurricane Rita three years ago. But just like before, we were spared the worst and we're very grateful for that.

"I had not seen the moth Agrius cingulata in the last year or so, but one came back today. He was sitting on our porch swing looking just as beautiful as ever. I have attached a couple of pictures to show you."

On July 24, 2009, Phillis sent me this beautiful image of Eumorpha fasciatus.

Eumorpha fasciatus, Marrero, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, July 24, 2009, courtesy of Phillis.

Visit beautiful pictures of Agrius cingulata, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, courtesy of Phillis. I received many images of this species from the southern states in early October, 2008. One half of all new registrations (October-December 2008) for World's Largest Saturniidae Site will be donated to humanitarian aid. Many thanks to all who assist when disaster strikes. May the people rebound as the moths do!

Many thanks also to CJ Abadie who sends the following image of Eumorpha fasciatus.

Eumorpha fasciatus, Marrero, Jefferson Parish, Lousiana,
August 13, 2013, courtesy of CJ Abadie.

Twenty-five Sphingidae species are listed for Louisiana on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Jefferson Parish (Only Isoparce cupressi is reported on U.S.G.S.). 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 Jefferson Parish, 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.

The night-blooming moon flower will attract many Sphingidae at dusk and into the night.

I think Eumorpha fasciatus must be quite common in southeastern Louisiana, based on the number of sightings I receive.

Eumorpha fasciatus, Gretna, Jefferson Parrish, Louisiana,
August 31, 2017, courtesy of David Marmillion.

Although this page currently (September 2, 2017) references only Jefferson Parrish sightings, it wil in the future also include sightings from nearby St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Lafourche, St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parrishes, which I anticipate will be home to the same Sphingidae species.

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, Phillis Pink-spotted hawkmoth, : 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).

Agrius cingulata, October 2008, Phillis

Ceratomia amyntor WO, 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 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. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths.
Catalpa is the larval host.

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. The upperside of the hindwing is gray with diffuse darker bands.

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.

Isoparce cupressi WO, the Cypress or Baldcypress Sphinx

Isoparce cupressi, the rare Cypress Sphinx, flies in Cypress swamps in Georgia (specimen type locality), and from Maryland to Texas. It has been reported in Mexico.

Lapara phaeobrachycerous WO, the Pine Sphinx

If you have pines, you might have this species.

slight possibility

Lapara coniferarum USGS, the Southern Pine Sphinx: The upperside is of the forewing is gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near the wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. The upperside of the hindwing is a uniform brown-gray. If you've got pines, this species is likely present.

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

I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata.

Manduca rustica VM, the Rustic Sphinx

Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with a dusting of white scales and zigzagged black and white lines.

Manduca sexta VM, the 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, 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 franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth

The costal half of the forewings are grey, but the posterior portion is a distinctive warm yellowish-brown; the boundary between these two areas is marked with a series of dark diagonal streaks. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks the dark bar along the fw inner margin.

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. unlikely

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. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. See the file for the female; she is different.

Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx

They are common on Prince Edward Island, and are possibility for Mobile County.

Paonias astylus WO, the 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, the 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, the Small-eyed Sphinx

Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Frederick 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, the Titan Sphinx. possible stray

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.

Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx, WO: The body and wings are dark brown. The forewing has a large black patch covering most of the outer half of the wing. There is a pale tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), and a fairly straight median line to the inside of the cell spot.

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. remote possibility

See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next two species.

Hemaris thysbe WO, the 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, Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth: Adults mimic bumblebees; quite variable. Wings: basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases, edges. Thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. Abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments before tip.

Pseudosphinx tetrio, the Tetrio Sphinx, WO: The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with a dark spot at the base of the costa and blurry gray and white markings. The upperside of the hindwing is dark brown with white along the inner margin, and the lower half of the outer margin.

Philampelini tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx

Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx.

Eumorpha fasciatus WO/PP/CjA, Banded Sphinx: Upperside: dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has lighter brown band along costa, sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and plants in evening primrose family.

Eumorpha fasciatus, Marrero, July 24, 2009, Phillis Punch.
Eumorpha fasciatus, Marrero, August 13, 2013, CJ Abadie.
Eumorpha fasciatus, Gretna, August 31, 2017, David Marmillion.

Eumorpha intermedia WO, the Intermediate Sphinx
The Intermediate Sphinx Moth, (Eumorpha intermedia), (Wing span: 3 9/16 - 3 7/8 inches (9 - 9.8 cm)), flies in lower austral and subtropical lowlands in North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Texas. posibility

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 not previously 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

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, 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. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts.

Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx

This species has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine.

Proserpinus guarae WO, the Proud Sphinx

The rare and possibly endangered Proud Sphinx flies from Texas and Louisiana east to northern Florida, north to Alabama, Missouri, northern Georgia, and 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, the Tersa Sphinx

This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however, and may establish itself in Mobile County periodically.

Agrius cingulata, Marrero, Louisiana, just south of New Orleans,
October 17, 2005, courtesy of Phillis.

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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