Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Ceratomia amyntor
BB/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). |
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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.
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This species is officially reported from Charlevoix.
If you have pines, you
might have this species. It also flies on P.E.I.
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This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens
(potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found.
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This species is not recorded in Charlevoix. It is a strong migrant,
however.If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it.
Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. |
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Sphinx canadensis
BB/WO,
Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere,
but it might possibly be present in Charlevoix County.
Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry
(Vaccinium).
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Sphinx chersis
USGS, 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. |
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This species is not oficially reported in Charlevoix County. We have them on P.E.I.,
but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. |
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This species is not reported in Charlevoix. Generally it is not
widely reported, but still is a possibility. |
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This species is reported in Charlevoix County.
I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on
lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered.
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Sphinx luscitiosa
WO,
the Canadian Sphinx or
Clemen's Sphinx
This one is not officially reported from Charlevoix, but
it may be present.
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If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the
Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty widespread throughout Michigan. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
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The adults are 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. |
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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. |
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Paonias myops
BB/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.
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Pachysphinx modesta
USGS,
the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx,
This large poplar/willow feeder is reported in Charlevoix County.
They are a heavy bodied species.
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Smerinthus cerisyi
USGS, the Cerisyi's
Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood.
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This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and it is recorded
in Charlevoix.
Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini Tribe:
Visit Hemaris comparison to distinguish the following three species.
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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. |
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Hemaris gracilis
WO, The Slender Clearwing or Graceful
Clearwing
This day flier is not commonly reported, but might be
present in
Charlevoix County. |
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Hemaris thysbe
JC/USGS, the
Hummingbird Clearwing
This interesting day flier is confirmed for Charlevoix, and
is reported in neighbouring counties.
They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida.
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Hemaris thysbe, Charlevoix, August 24, Julie Christiansen.
Philampelini Tribe:
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This moth is not reported for Charlevoix,
but it may be present.
Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. |
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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:
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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.
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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. |
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Darapsa myron
WO, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the
Grapevine Sphinx
This moth is not recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Charlevoix County.
It is widely reported in southern Michigan and in southern Ontario.
If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this
species nearby. |
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This species has not been recorded in Charlevoix.
It is seen in southern Ontario, however, and in central and southern Michigan. |
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Hyles gallii
WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth
or Gallium Sphinx
This species is not reported in Charlevoix, but it has been recorded
in Michigan counties north and south. I suspect it is present.
Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not.
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Hyles lineata WO, 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. |
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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.
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