Sussex County, New Jersey
Sphingidae

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia amyntor, The Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx, WO, 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, the 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 and the upperside of the hindwing is yellowish brown with obscure lines. Caterpillars feed gregariously on Catalpa species (Catalpa bignoniodes and C. speciosa). Ceratomia undulosa JG, 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. Ceratomia udulosa, July 13, 2005, Joe Garris. Dolba hyloeus JG, 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. Dolba hyloeus, June 27, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Lapara bombycoides TM/JG/USGS, 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. Lapara bombycoides, July 11, 2005, courtesy of Joe Garris Lapara coniferarum JG, the Southern Pine Sphinx The upperside is of the forewing is gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near the wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. The upperside of the hindwing is a uniform brown-gray. Lapara coniferarum, July 14, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Manduca jasminearum JG, the Ash Sphinx The upperside of forewing is gray to grayish brown with a black line running from the middle of the costa to the middle of the outer margin; the line may be broken near the margin. There is a splash of brown around the cell spot. Manduca jasminearum, July 15, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Manduca quinquemaculata WO/JG, 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. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. Manduca quinquemaculata, September 22, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Manduca rustica WO, the Rustic Sphinx The abdomen of the adult moth has three pairs of yellow spots. The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with a dusting of white scales and zigzagged black and white lines. Manduca sexta WO/JG, the Carolina Sphinx The abdomen usually has six pairs of yellow bands, broken across the back. The sixth set of markings is quite small. The upperside of the forewing has indistinct black, brown, and white markings. Manduca sexta, September 13, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Paratrea plebeja WO, 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. Questionable Sphinx chersis USGS, 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. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. Larvae are beautiful and feed on cherry foliage. Sphinx 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. ,br> Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis) and sage (Salvia). Sphinx franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth This species is not reported in Sussex. Generally it is not widely reported anywhere. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks the dark bar along the fw inner margin. unlikely Sphinx gordius JG/USGS, the 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. Sphinx gordius, June 1, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Sphinx kalmiae JG, 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 kalmiae, July 25, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis JG, 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. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. Amorpha juglandis, May 17, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Pachysphinx modesta JG, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Larvae are fond of poplars and willows. Pachysphinx modesta, May 30, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Pachysphinx modesta, September 15, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Paonias astylus JG, the Huckleberry Sphinx This appears to be an uncommon species. They are now officially recorded for Sussex County. Paonias astylus, June 18, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Paonias excaecata JG/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 Sussex County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias excaecata, July 8, 2005, courtesy of Joe Garris. Paonias excaecata, September 15, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Paonias myops USGS/JG, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Sussex County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops, July 23, 2005, courtesy of Joe Garris. Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis, June 3, 2007, courtesy of Joe Garris. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris thysbe USGS/JG, 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. Hemaris thysbe, July 28, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Hemaris thysbe, Sussex County, September 15, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Adults mimic bumblebees and are quite variable, both geographically and seasonally. The thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. 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. unlikely Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx Adults nectar from flowers of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), petunia (Petunia hybrida), mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius), and phlox (Phlox). If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have this species. Eumorpha pandorus JG, the Pandorus Sphinx If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have this species. I have often seen them in Pottersville, Hunterdon County. Eumorpha pandorus, July 23, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis WO/JG, 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 JG, 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. They are common in Hunterdon County, further south. Darapsa choerilus, May 20, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Darapsa choerilus September 15, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Darapsa myron JG, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the 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. Darapsa myron, July 5, 2005, courtesy of Joe Garris. Darapsa myron September 15, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris. Darapsa versicolor JG, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. It has now been reported in Warren County, but probably is not common. Darapsa versicolor, July 20, 2006, courtesy of Joe Garris Deidamia inscriptum WO/JG, the Lettered Sphinx This species has been recorded in Warren, confirmed May 2, 2006 for Sussex by Joe Garris. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. Deidamia inscriptum, May 2, 2007, courtesy of Joe Garris Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx Just to the south of Sussex County, Tony McBride reports two flights in Warren County, May and August. Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx The forewing upperside is dark olive brown with paler brown along the costa and outer margin, a narrow tan band running from the wing tip to the base, and white streaks along the veins. Sphecodina abbottii WO/JG, 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. I have taken it is Pottersville (Hunterdon County).Tony McBride confirms them in Warren County. Joe Garris confirms it in Sussex Co., May 11, 2007 Sphecodina abbottii, May 11, 2007, courtesy of Joe Garris Xylophanes tersa WO, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however. Tony McBride reports them in Warren County, just to the south.