Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
 |
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. The upperside
of the hindwing is light brown and has a dark brown band along the
outer margin.
|
 |
Ceratomia catalpae
WO,
the Catalpa Sphinx:
This is generally a more southerly species, but it has been recorded
in Essex County and might be present in Franklin County.
I saw them in great numbers in New Jersey. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more
spectacular than the moths.
Catalpa is the larval host.
Questionable! |
 |
Ceratomia undulosa
WO/KP, Waved Sphinx:
Usually pale brownish gray (sometimes dark) to yellowish-brown with wavy black and white lines and black-outlined white cell spot.
Hw: gray with diffuse darker bands.
|
Ceratomia undulosa, Ludlow, July 16, 2014, Karl Piela.
 |
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. Larvae 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.
The underside is rather plain
|
 |
Lapara coniferarum
WO, Southern Pine Sphinx:
Gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near wing center; other markings are usually
diffuse. HW: uniform brown-gray.
Lacks more sharply contrasting black
markings of fresh L. bombycoides. Extensive
reddish brown patch in median area near fw inner margin.
|
 | This species is probably present in Berkshire County.
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. The upperside of the
hindwing is mostly black, with gray at the lower margin. unlikely
|
 |
Manduca quinquemaculatus
WO the Five-spotted Hawkmoth:
This species is not recorded in Hampden, but, if you
grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it.
|
 |
Manduca sexta
WO/MGL&AL, Carolina Sphinx.
This species is now (August 2, 2014) officially recorded in your county. If you grow
tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.
|
Manduca sexta, Westfield, August 2, 2014, Melissa Garwacki-Labombard & Angela Lugo
 |
Paratrea plebeja
WO, the Plebian Sphinx:
This species is recorded in Dukes County, but probably would not be common,
as this would be the northernmost part of
range. The upperside of the forewing is gray with indistinct black
and white markings.
|
|
Sphinx canadensis
WO,
Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx:
The absence of the white spot on each forewing and the more brownish
coloration serve to separate canadensis from poecilus. The hindwing
fringe also tends to be white on poecilus
and checkered brownish on canadensis.
Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry
(Vaccinium).
|
 |
Sphinx chersis
WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx:
Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.
|
 |
This species is not officially recorded, but I suspect it is
present. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as
frequently as I see the other Sphingidae.
|
 |
This species is probably present in Hampden County.
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. |
 |
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:
FW upperside is yellowish gray in males; pale gray with
yellow tint in females. Dark border on outer margin widens
as it approaches inner margin. HW upperside is deep yellow in males,
pale yellow in females; both with wide black border.
|
 |
Sphinx poecila
WO, the 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, being replaced by
Sphinx gordius
in Connecticut.
|
Smerinthini Tribe:
 |
Amorpha juglandis
WO,
the Walnut Sphinx:
Adults are highly variable; sometimes wings
may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to
dark brown, and may have white or pink tinge.
Patterns range from faint to pronounced.
This is the first Sphinx species I reared as a boy in New Jersey.
See the file for the female; she is different.
|
 |
Pachysphinx modesta
USGS
the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx:
This moth has a large, heavy body,
and females can be remarkably plump. Hindwings are often striking
in contrast to more sombre upperwings.
|
 |
Paonias astylus
WO/KP, the Huckleberry Sphinx:
It is recorded for northeastern Massachusetts and western Connecticut
so may be present in Hampden County.
It would be more common
in southeastern Massachusetts and is a relatively uncommon species.
|
Paonias excaecata, Ludlow, July 16, 2014, Karl Piela.
 |
Paonias excaecata
WO/KP, the Blinded Sphinx:
Named for the dull grey-blue spot in the hindwing, this moth has a
wide distribution and is probably common in your county.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported
as far south as Florida.
|
Paonias excaecata, Ludlow, July 16, 2014, Karl Piela.
 |
Paonias myops
WO/KP, the Small-eyed Sphinx:
Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide
distribution and is probably common in your county.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported
as far south as Florida.
|
Paonias myops, Ludlow, July 16, 2014, Karl Piela.
 |
Smerinthus cerisyi
WO, the Cerisyi's Sphinx:
At my home in Montague, P.E.I., Canada, they are quite common and
are very easy to rear.
|
 |
Smerinthus jamaicensis
WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx:
Jamaicensis closely resembles cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much
smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in
the lower wings. Look for dark half moon, inwardly lined with white
at the fw apex.
|
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish
the next three 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 gracilis
WO,
Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing:
Gracilis is distinguished from similar species by pair of red-brown
bands on sides of thorax, varying from green to yellow-green
dorsally and sometimes brown with white below. Abdomen is red. Wings
are transparent with reddish brown borders.
|
Philampelini tribe:
 |
Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx:
This moth is not officially reported for Hampden,
but it is fairly often reported
along the coast from southern New Jersey
to central Maine.
Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx.
|
 |
Eumorpha pandorus WO/KP, 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.
It is confirmed in Worcester Co. to the east. |
Eumorpha pandorus, Ludlow, July 16, 2014, Karl Piela.
Macroglossini tribe:
 |
Amphion floridensis
WO, the Nessus Sphinix:
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/KP, 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 choerilus, Ludlow, July 16, 2014, Karl Piela.
 |
Darapsa myron
WO/RA/KP, Virginia Creeper Sphinx;
Grapevine Sphinx:
FW upperside is dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint
(often quite green).
On the costal margin there is a dark rectangular patch, although this
may be reduced or absent. HW upperside is pale orange.
|
Darapsa myron, Westfield, July 30, 2011, courtesy of Rebecca Alves
Darapsa choerilus, Ludlow, July 16, 2014, Karl Piela.
 |
Darapsa versicolor
WO,
the Hydrangea Sphinx:
If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the
Hydrangea Sphinx. It has not been widely reported, however, and
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
Note thick, irregular, creamy transverse line on forewings and the
absence of thin white lines on forewings and thorax.
|
 |
Hyles lineata
WO, White-lined Sphinx:
Dark olive brown with paler brown along the
costa and outer margin, a narrow tan band running from the wing tip
to the base, and white streaks along the veins.
The hindwing upperside is black with a reddish pink median band.
|
 |
Sphecodina abbottii
WO/KP, Abbott's Sphinx:
Adults are said to mimic bumblebees and make a buzzing sound when
feeding. The wing margins are scalloped. The upperside of the
forewing is dark brown with light brown bands and markings. The
upperside of the hindwing is yellow with a wide black outer margin.
|
Sphecodina abbottii, Chicopee, June 1, 2012, courtesy of Karl Piela.
|
|
