Windham County, Southeastern Vermont

This page, depicting the Sphingidae from Windham County, Vermont, is inspired by and dedicated to K. L. Thalin who sent me the images of Hyles gallii at the top and bottom of the page, as well as the images of Paonias excaecata and Smerinthus cerisyi immediately below.

Paonias excaecata, Saxton's River, Windham County, Vermont, courtesy of K. L. Thalin.

Smerinthus cerisyi, Saxton's River, Windham County, Vermont, courtesy of K. L. Thalin.

K. L. Thalin writes, "I have been in contact over the last week or so with Daniel Marlos, host of the site "What's That Bug?". He identified a crazy-looking wasp I photographed as a Giant Echneumon and is featuring it as the 'September Bug of the Month. I submitted these two photos (Hyles gallii) to him this morning.

"You're most welcome, and yes, you have my permission to post the images. Please send me the link when you have it all created! That's great!"

Seventeen Sphingidae species (Twenty-three as of July 26, 2014) are listed for Vermont on the U.S.G.S. website. None of those species are reported in Windham County as of September 1, 2010. Six are reported as of July 26, 2014: (Amorpha juglandis, Lapara bombycoides, Pachysphinx modesta, Paonias myops, Amphion floridensis, Hyles gallii). I have, however, added many species which I feel are probably present in Vermont (not reported) and in Windham County. It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths 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 is 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.

Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource.

Visit Windham County Sphingidae Larvae: Caterpillars; Hornworms

Visit Vermont Catocala: Underwing Moths

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth, fall stray This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to Vermont as a rare stray. There are not too many records from Vermont, but records exist for NY, NJ and CT. It has been reported in Washington Co., VT. 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. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia undulosa WO, 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. 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. 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. 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 WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it may be in Windsor County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, 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 WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx TForewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. Sphinx gordius WO, the Apple Sphinx This species is probably present in Windsor 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. Sphinx kalmiae WO, the Laurel Sphinx 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 The upperside of the forewing is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with a faint yellow tint in females. In both sexes, the dark border on the outer margin widens as it approaches the inner margin. 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 in eastern Canada. They are reported as far south as northeastern New York. 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. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. They are common on Prince Edward Island. Paonias excaecata KLT, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Windsor although not officially recorded. 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 Windsor although not reported. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus cerisyi KLT, the Cerisyi's Sphinx Smerinthus cerisyi antennae typically rest alongside head and thorax and forewings generally conceal hindwings. This is a very easy species to rear. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Adults mimic bumblebees and are quite variable, both geographically and seasonally. The wings are basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases and edges. The abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments just before the terminal end. 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 undersides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. They have a red abdomen. 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. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth has beautiful pink hindwings. Larvae get quite large and are often found on grape foliage or crawling on the ground seeking some soft earth for tunneling and pupation. 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 WO, 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. Darapsa choerilus WO, 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. I suspect they are present. Darapsa myron WO, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Windsor 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 WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx: Fw upperside is often greenish brown with curved dark lines and pinkish-white patches. Hw upperside is pale yellow to reddish brown with white along the costal margin, greenish brown along the outer margin, and white shaded with greenish brown on inner margin. 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 This species is reported in Windsor County by Beth Anderson. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata WO; possible stray, the White-lined Sphinx This species is not reported from Windsor County. It is a strong migrator from the south, and has been seen in northern New Hampshire. Proserpinus flavofasciata WO, the Yellow-banded Day Sphinx This species is not officialy reported from Windsor County. Adults fly as a single brood from April-June in meadows in coniferous forests. Adults fly during the afternoon. possibly in northern Windham Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx This moth is very much under reported. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host.

Hyles gallii, Saxton's River, Windham County, Vermont,
August 12, 2007, courtesy of K. L. Thalin.

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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