Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Agrius cingulata, Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray.
This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum),
morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). |
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Ceratomia amyntor, Elm Sphinx; Four-horned Sphinx. (Washington)/(Dodge)/
(Iowa)
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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Ceratomia catalpae, Catalpa Sphinx (Washington).
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. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths.
Catalpa is the larval host. |
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Ceratomia hageni, Hagen's Sphinx; Osage Orange Sphinx.
The upperside of the forewing is gray with a green tint and has dark indistinct wavy lines, and pale gray patches at the wing tip and
along the costa. |
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Ceratomia undulosa, Waved Sphinx (Washington).
The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white
lines and a black-outlined white cell spot. |
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Dolba hyloeus, 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. |
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Lapara bombycoides, 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 (generally more northerly). It also flies on P.E.I. |
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Lintneria eremitus, Hermit Sphinx. Generally this species is not widely reported. Larval hosts are various species of
beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), and sage (Salvia). |
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Manduca quinquemaculatus, Five-spotted Hawkmoth (Washington).
This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found.
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Manduca sexta, Carolina Sphinx (Washington).
If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it, though.
Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. only in southern Wisconsin |
| Sphinx canadensis, Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx (Washington), is not
common, and is not
often reported anywhere, but it has been seen in Sheboygan County just to the north.
Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). |
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Sphinx chersis, Northern Ash Sphinx; Great Ash Sphinx (Washington).
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. |
 | Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. Larvae are beautiful and feed on cherry foliage. |
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Sphinx gordius, 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. |
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Sphinx kalmiae, Laurel Sphinx (Washington).
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. |
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Sphinx luscitiosa , Canadian Sphinx; Clemen's Sphinx:
The fw upperside is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with faint yellow tint in females (left). The dark border on the outer
margin widens as it approaches inner margin. Hw upperside is deep yellow in males, pale yellow in females with wide black border. |
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Sphinx poecila, Poecila Sphinx (Washington).
If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. They are probably widespread throughout Wisconsin,
but are very much under reported. (generally more northerly) |
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Sphinx vashti, Snowberry Sphinx.
The upperside of the forewing has a narrow black subterminal line bordered by a white inverted V-shaped line on the outside, and a
black line running inwards from the apex of the wing. It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis, Walnut Sphinx (Washington).
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.
The female is different. |
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Paonias excaecata, Blinded Sphinx (Washington).
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, Small-eyed Sphinx (Washington)/(Dodge)/
Marquette.
This small species is probably in your county. This species ranges across North America.
The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. |
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Smerinthus cerisyi, Cerisyi's Sphinx; or One-eyed Sphinx. Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. This one is very questionable. |
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Smerinthus jamaicensis, Twin-spotted Sphinx (Washington).
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.
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Hemaris diffinis, Snowberry Clearwing; Bumblebee Moth.
(Jefferson)/(Washington)/Green Lake
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, Slender Clearwing; Graceful Clearwing.
This day flier is not commonly reported, but it might be present in your county. Generally it is reported more to the east.
unlikely |
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Hemaris thysbe, Hummingbird Clearwing.
(Jefferson)/(Washington)
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:
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Eumorpha achemon, Achemon Sphinx.
Adults nectar from flowers of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), petunia (Petunia hybrida), mock orange
(Philadelphus coronarius), and phlox (Phlox). Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. |
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Eumorpha pandorus, Pandorus Sphinx (Washington)/(Dodge)
/Marquette/(Iowa)/Lafayette.
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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Amphion floridensis, Nessus Sphinx (Washington)/Marquette//Green Lake.
This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you might have the Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow
yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. |
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Darapsa choerilus, Azalea Sphinx (Washington). 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, Virginia Creeper Sphinx;
Grapevine Sphinx (Washington). It is widely reported in southern Michigan and in southern Ontario. It is likely present. |
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Darapsa versicolor, Hydrangea Sphinx. If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the
Hydrangea Sphinx. |
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Deidamia inscriptum, Lettered Sphinx (Washington). Fw outer margin of this early spring flier deeply scalloped.
Light brown with dark brown markings, small black and white spot near wing tip.
Hw upperside orange-brown with dark brown outer margin and median line. Males rest with strong arc in abdomen. |
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Hyles gallii, Bedstraw Hawk Moth; Gallium Sphinx (Washington)/(Dodge).
This species is not reported in Waukesha, but it has been recorded in other eastern Wisconsin counties. 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, White-lined Sphinx (Washington)/(Dodge).
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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Sphecodina abbottii, 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. |
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