Cumberland County, New Jersey
Sphingidae

Paratrea plebeja, Gloucester County, New Jersey,
courtesy of Jesse Donovan (JD).

The USGS has extensive records for Cumberland County with nineteen species recorded. However, Jesse Donovan adds Ceratomia undulosa and Manduca rustica.

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed for New Jersey on the BAMONA website as of August 6, 2014. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Cumberland County.

Nineteen species, Agrius cingulata, Amorpha juglandis, Ceratomia catalpae, Lapara bombycoides, L. coniferarum, Manduca quinquemaculata, M. sexta , Paonias astylus, P. excaecata, Paratraea plebeja, Sphinx gordius, Amphion floridensis, Darapsa choerilus, D. myron, D. versicolor, Hemaris diffinis, Hemaris thysbe, Hyles lineata, Xylophanes tersa, are reported on BAMONA as of August 6, 2014.

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the caterpillars you are likely to encounter.

I (William Oehlke) have added many species not listed by BAMONA which I expect are present or might be present, although unreported.

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.

Please also forward you sightings to BAMONA, an excellent on-line resource.

Visit Cumberland County Sphingidae Larvae: Caterpillars; Hornworms

Visit New Jersey Catocala: Underwing Moths

If you are travelling, you can find active Sphingidae checklists for all countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbbean via the links at North, Central, South American Sphingidae checklists

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata, USGS Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray

This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to Cumberland as a rare stray. There are not too many records from New York state, but records exist for NJ and CT.

Ceratomia amyntor WO, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx

This moth is not officially recorded in Cumberland County.

Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).

Ceratomia catalpae JD/USGS, the Catalpa Sphinx

This species is recorded for Cumberland.

I have seen them in great numbers in other New Jersey counties.

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

Ceratomia undulosa JD, the Waved Sphinx

This moth is now recorded in Cumberland, courtesy of Jesse Donavan. I have seen them as far north as P.E.I. in eastern Canada, and took them in New Jersey.
It is named for the wavy lines on the forewings.

Dolba hyloeus WO, the Pawpaw Sphinx

This moth is not recorded in Cumberland. It is widely reported in other New Jersey counties and in Connecticut.

Lapara bombycoides USGS, the Northern Pine Sphinx

This moth is reported from Cumberland.

If you have pines, you probably have this species. It flies on P.E.I.

Lapara coniferarum USGS, the Southern Pine Sphinx

This moth is reported from Cumberland, and it is widely reported in New Jersey and along the coast in Connecticut and Masachusetts.
If you've got pines, this species is likely present.

Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx

This species is not reported in Cumberland. Generally it is not widely reported, but still is a remote possibility.

Manduca jasminearum WO, the Ash Sphinx

This species is not officially recorded in Cumberland County.

It is reported in New Jersey, southeastern New York and Connecticut. It might be present in Cumberland County.

Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth

This species is officially recorded in Cumberland, and has also been seen in nearby counties. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it.

Manduca rustica JD, the Rustic Sphinx

This species is now recorded in Cumberland, and it has been taken in counties in northeastern and central eastern New Jersey.

Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen.

Manduca sexta USGS, the Carolina Sphinx

This species is officially recorded in Cumberland. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it, though.

Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Paratrea plebeja USGS, 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 chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx

This species is not reported in Cumberland. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. unlikely

Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx

This species is not officially reported in Cumberland. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae.

Sphinx franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth

This species is not reported in Cumberland, and generally it is not widely reported anywhere. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks the dark bar along the fw inner margin.
remote possibility

Sphinx gordius USGS, the Apple Sphinx

This species is reported in Cumberland. Generally it is widely reported in neighbouring counties.

Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies more to the north.

Sphinx kalmiae WO, the Laurel Sphinx

This species is not officially reported in Cumberland. I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on lilac.

At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis USGS, the Walnut Sphinx

This moth is fairly widely reported in New Jersey.

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 WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx
This moth is not officially recorded in Cumberland County. It is fond of poplars and willows.

They are common on Prince Edward Island.

Paonias astylus USGS, the Huckleberry Sphinx

This appears to be an uncommon species.

They are officially recorded for Cumberland.

Paonias excaecata USGS, the Blinded Sphinx

Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Gloucester County. 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 Cumberland 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:

Hemaris thysbe USGS, the Hummingbird Clearwing

This interesting day flier is reported in Cumberland, and is widely reported to the north, east and west.
They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida.

Hemaris diffinis USGS, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth

This moth is widespread and has been officially recorded in Cumberland. It has been confirmed in northwestern N.J. and southeastern N.Y. and Connecticut.

Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing

This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in Cumberland, but has been seen in northeastern N.J. and southeastern N.Y. unlikely

Philampelini tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx

This moth is not officially reported for Cumberland, 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, 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 USGS, the Nessus Sphinix

This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. It is reported from Cumberland.
Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen.

Darapsa choerilus USGS, 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.
It is officially confirmed for Cumberland.

Darapsa myron USGS, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Cumberland 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 versicolor USGS, the Hydrangea Sphinx

If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx.
It has been reported in Cumberland County.

Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx

This species has not been officialy recorded in Cumberland.

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

Hyles lineata USGS, the White-lined Sphinx

This species is officially reported from Cumberland County. It has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine.

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. It is likely in Cumberland.

Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx

This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however. I have taken a specimen in Hunterdon County, to the north.

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.

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