Ingham County, Michigan
Sphingidae

Sphecodina abbottii, corner of Eden Road and Barnes Road, Mason, Ingham County, Michigan,
68mm, taken at flowers/wild phlox, May 30, 1999, courtesy of Harry King.

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Michigan. Not all of the species are reported (fourteen by USGS) or anticipated in Ingham County. I have added eighteen species which I feel may be present, in addition to Sphinx kalmiae reported by Zak van Loocke.

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 Ingham County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that these moths are present.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Zak Van Loocke who sent me sighting data for Amphion floridensis, Sphink kalmaie, Manduca quinquemaculata, Hemaris diffinis and Paonias excaecata in Lansing.

Recently (August 3, 2005) Zak has found a Manduca sexta larva on garden tomatoes.

Special thanks also to Harry Dale King who has provided images and data from Mason.

Special thanks to Alan L. Jones who sent the beautiful image of a fresh Amphion floridensis from the Harris Nature Center in Okemos. The image is linked below the floridensis thumbnail.

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: 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. The upperside of the hindwing is light brown and has a dark brown band along the outer margin. 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 and the upperside of the hindwing is yellowish brown with obscure lines. The body is gray, spindle-shaped, and 30-35mm long. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa USGS, 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. Some individuals are very dark, almost black, and others are light yellowish brown. 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. Lapara bombycoides USGS, 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. If you have pines, you might have this species. It flies on P.E.I. 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. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two white bands and a triangular black patch at the base. Note the golden hair on the thorax. Manduca quinquemaculatus ZVL/USGS, 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 ZVL/WO, the Carolina Sphinx This species is now recorded in Ingham, which is just north of its reported range. If you grow tomatoes, you have possibly encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might possibly be present in Ingham County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). 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. Sphinx drupiferarum USGS, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is present in Ingham County. 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. The upperside of the forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies more to the north. Sphinx kalmiae ZVL, the Laurel Sphinx This species is reported in Ingham County by Zak van Loocke, July 2005. I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered. Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx. Fw upperside is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with a faint yellow tint in females. In both sexes, 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. This one is not reported from Ingham, but it might be is present. more northerly range 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.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, This large poplar/willow feeder is not reported in Ingham County, but it should be present. They are a heavy bodied species. Paonias excaecata ZVL/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 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. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, 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. I suspect it is present. Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, 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: Hemaris diffinis ZVL/USGS/HDK, 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 comparison Hemaris diffinis, August 17, Zak van Loocke Hemaris diffinis, June 1, 1999, Mason, Harry Dale King. 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 sides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. They have a red abdomen. Hemaris thysbe USGS, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is confirmed for Ingham. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not reported for Ingham, butshouldbepresent. 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, 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 ZVL/ USGS/ALJ, 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. Amphion floridensis, Harris Nature Center, Okemos, June 10, 2009, Alan L. Jones Darapsa choerilus USGS/HDK, 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 choerilus, Mason, Harry D. King Darapsa myron USGS/HDK, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Ingham County. 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 myron, Mason, Harry D. King Darapsa versicolor USGS, 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 This species has not been recorded in Ingham, but I suspect it is present. It is also seen in southern Ontario. Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is not reported in Ingham, but it may 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/HDK, 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. Sphecodina abbottii, wild phlox, Mason, May 30, 1999, Harry D. King. Xylophanes tersa WO, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south and east. It is a strong migrant, however, and may stray to Ingham.

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