Jackson County, Oregon
Sphingidae Larvae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Alan J. Kelly who provides the Eumorpha achemon image at the top of the page. Alan writes, "Thank you for the confirmation on the identity of the Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar. Here are a couple of photos.

"My daughters would like to keep him in a terrarium. He will eat grape leaves? And we can probably just mist the leaves for a water supply? Do we need to provide sand at the bottom? Do they pupate in the air or in ground?"

Most Sphingidae larvae are encountered when they are large and mature and ready to pupate. Sometimes, however, they are just large and have some growing to do. In most cases they will do fine either in a covered aquarium or in a large glass jar (lid on tight, no airholes) or in some sort of plastic tub. Misting of the leaves is not necessary, but it is useful to let the leaves still remain on the stem and wrap the broken end of the stem in a moist paper towel. Below is a link to an article that should provide instructions for the care of most Sphinigidae larvae.

For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta larva, central Texas, August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.

Many thanks to Michael Klam who sends the following image of Smerinthus ophthalmica.

Smerinthus ophthalmica prepupal larva, Howard Prairie Lake, Jackson County, Oregon,
elevation 4500 feet, October 2, 2011, courtesy of Michael Klam.

The purplish cast along the back of the caterpillar in Michael's image is a tint that larvae often exhibit when they are ready to pupate and spend the winter underground.

Many thanks also to Julie Futoran-Ulsted who sends the following image of an Eumorpha achemon larva.

Eumorpha achemon fifth instar on grape, Medford, Jackson County, Oregon,
brown form, July 5, 2015, courtesy of Julie Futoran-Ulsted.

Only twenty-three Sphingidae species are listed for Oregon on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Jackson County (Ten are reported on U.S.G.S. as of November 15, 2008). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the larvae you are likely to encounter. A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in your county, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth with its larvae are present or might be present.

A "USGS" indicates the moth is reported 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.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia undulosa USGS, the Waved Sphinx: Note the pinkish-orange tail, spiracles outlined in red and the cream stripes on the head. The dramatic color change from the dorsal yellow-green to the lateral light greyish-blue is not always as intense as in this image. occurs as an adult stray, unlikely in larval stage Manduca quinquemaculata USGS, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth The caterpillars are called Tomato Hornworms and each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen. Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Sphinx chersis USGS, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx: The larvae are pale bluish green. The head has a pair of yellow lateral bands meeting at the apex. The oblique, lateral stripes are pale and bordered anteriorly with a darker green. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night. Larvae have been found on Amelanchier nantuckensis in Massachusetts and have been reared to pupation in Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines. Sphinx perelegans USGS, the Elegant Sphinx: The basic body colour can be either glaucous or apple-green, without the earlier body tubercles. The oblique side stripes are white, edged with purple. The horn is sky blue. The spiracles are pale orange and the anal flap is edged with yellow. Sphinx sequoiae USGS, the Sequoiae Sphinx: Larvae feed on California juniper (Juniperus californica) and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. osteosperma). Sphinx vashti USGS, the Snowberry Sphinx Larvae feed on the common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and on coralberry (S. orbiculatus). Note the two golden lines of slightly raised bumps, one just behind the head, the other on the thorax. Smerinthini Tribe: Pachysphinx occidentalis WO, the Big Poplar Sphinx Larvae feed on cottonwood and poplar (Populus) and willow (Salix). Larvae are very chunky with little to distinguish them from Pachysphinx modesta. Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada. Skin is quite granulous. Smerinthus ophthalmica WO: Ophthalmica larvae resemble cerisyi larvae, both being pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from head to more pronounced anal diagonal line. Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with pale yellow inverted "V". Note blue horn. Smerinthus ophthalmica, near Howard Prairie Lake, october 2, 2011, Michael Klam. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Hemaris thetis WO/EB, Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, high bush cranberry and hawthorn (Crataegus). Horn is black with a slightly lighter base. This western species was formerly classified as H. diffinis or H. senta. Those species west of the Continental Divide are now classified as H. thetis. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon USGS/AJK/JFU, the Achemon Sphinx. Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis). Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown) form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines. Eumorpha achemon larva, August 8, 2008, courtesy of Alan J. Kelly Eumorpha achemon fifth instar larva, July 5, 2015, courtesy of Julie Futoran-Ulsted Macroglossini tribe: Arctonotus lucidus USGS, the Pacific Green Sphinx or Bear Sphinx. Larvae feed on evening primrose (Oenothera dentata var. campestris) and clarkias. David Wikle fed them on both Mexican evening primrose, Oenothera berlandieri and evening primrose, Oenothera biennis. Earlier instars are green. Eye at dorsal posterior appears in fifth instar. Hyles lineata USGS, the White-lined Sphinx Larvae are highly varied and feed on a great diversity of plants including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon), purslane (Portulaca), and Fuschia. All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines. Proserpinus clarkiae USGS, Clark's Sphinx, Larvae feed on elegant fairyfan (Clarkia unguiculata) in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). Proserpinus flavofasciata WO, Yellow-banded Day Sphinx, Larvae feed on willow weed (Epilobium) and possibly thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).

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Enjoy some of nature's wonderments: Saturniidae cocoons. Cocoons of the giant silkmoths may be purchased in the fall and winter. Big and beautiful giant silk moths will emerge in spring/summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

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