Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
 |
Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx; 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 catalpae WO, 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. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more
spectacular than the moths.
Catalpa is the larval host. slight possibility |
 |
Ceratomia undulosa WO, Waved Sphinx.
The upperside of the forewing is pale brownish gray with wavy black and white lines and a black-outlined white cell spot. |
 |
Dolba hyloeus WO, 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 WO, Northern Pine Sphinx.
This species is not officially reported from La Crosse. If you have pines, you probably have this species. It also flies on P.E.I. |
 |
Lintneria eremitus WO, 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, Five-spotted Hawkmoth.
This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found.
|
 |
Sphinx canadensis WO, Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not
often reported anywhere, but it might be present in your county. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry
(Vaccinium). |
 |
Sphinx chersis WO, Northern Ash Sphinx; 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, Wild Cherry Sphinx.
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, Apple Sphinx. Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies
more to the north. |
 |
Sphinx kalmiae WO, 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, Canadian Sphinx;
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, Poecila Sphinx.
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. |
 |
Sphinx vashti WO, 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:
 |
Amorpha juglandis WO, 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, Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx.
This large poplar/willow feeder is not reported in your county, but it is probably present.
They are a heavy bodied species. |
 |
Paonias excaecata WO, 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 and into August. |
 |
Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx.
This small species is confirmed in Trempealeau County by Ian Miller. This species ranges across North America.
The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. |
 |
Smerinthus cerisyi JR, Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx. Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. |
Smerinthus cerisyi, Sparta, May 18, 2015, Jonathan Ringdahl.
 |
Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, 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. Note almost complete C-shaped crescent on outer margin just below forewing apex. Same marking is much less complete in cerisyi.
|
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini Tribe:
See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species.
 |
Hemaris diffinis WO, 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 thysbe BAMONA, 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, Achemon Sphinx.
This moth is not reported for your county, but it may be present. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. |
 |
Eumorpha pandorus WO, Pandorus Sphinx.
If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might have this species. I often get asked to identify larvae from areas where
they have not previously been reported. |
Macroglossini Tribe:
 |
Amphion floridensis WO, 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, Azalea Sphinx.
The lower wings of this hawkmoth are a solid brownish-orange, matching the body colour.
You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. |
 |
Darapsa myron WO, Virginia Creeper Sphinx;
Grapevine Sphinx. The forewing upperside is dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint.
On the costal margin there is a dark rectangular patch, although this may be reduced or absent. The upperside of the hindwing is pale orange. |
 |
Deidamia inscriptum WO, 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, Bedstraw Hawk Moth; Gallium Sphinx.
This species is not reported in La Crosse, but it has been recorded in eastern Wisconsin counties. I suspect it is present.
Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. |
 |
Hyles lineata WO, 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, Abbott's Sphinx.
This moth is very much under reported on BAMONA. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections.
Grape is a popular larval host. |
|
|
