Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Pink-spotted hawkmoth -- (Agrius cingulata) USGS
stray
This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to
Tompkins as a rare stray. There are not too many records from
New York state, but records exist for NJ and CT.
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Ceratomia amyntor USGS,
the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx
This moth is officially recorded in Tompkins.
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and
cherry (Prunus). |
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This moth is recorded in Tompkins. I have seen them as far north as P.E.I. in
eastern Canada, and took them in New Jersey.
It is named for the wavy lines on the forewings. |
Ceratomia undulosa, May 28, 2006, Danby, Bill Evans
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This moth is recorded in Suffolk. It is widely reported in New Jersey
and Connecticut.
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This moth is reported from Tompkins, and it is
reported to the north, east, south and west. If you have pines, you
probably have this species. It flies on P.E.I.
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This species is recorded in Suffolk, and it has been seen in
nearby counties.
I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it.
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This species is not recorded in Tompkins.
If you grow tomatoes, however, you have probably encountered it.
Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.
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 | 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. North of normal range!
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Sphinx chersis USGS, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx
This species is present but may not
be common. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.
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This species is officially reported in Suffolk. We have them
on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently
as I see the other Sphingidae. |
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This species is reported in Tompkins. Generally it is not
widely reported. |
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This species is reported in Tompkins.
I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on
lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered.
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Sphinx luscitiosa USGS,
the Canadian Sphinx or
Clemen's Sphinx
This one is reported from Suffolk and Richmond and from northeastern New Jersey.
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If you have blueberries in the woods, then you might have the Poecila Sphinx.
They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island, but don't fly
too far south of Massachusetts, being replaced by Sphinx gordius
in Connecticut. Questionable. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
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This moth is fairly widely reported to the north, east, south and west
of as well as in Tompkins.
This is the first Sphinx species I reared as a boy in New Jersey.
See the file for the female; she is different. |
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Pachysphinx modesta
USGS/BE,
the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx
This moth is recorded in Tompkins County. It is fond of poplars and
willows.
They are common on Prince Edward Island. |
Pachysphinx modesta, May 31, 2007, Bill Evans.
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Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing,
this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Tompkins
County.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported
as far south as Florida. |
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Paonias myops
USGS/BE, the Small-eyed Sphinx
Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution
and is probably common in Tompkins County.
I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida.
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Paonias myops, May 30, 2006, Danby, courtesy of Bill Evans
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Tompkins would be close to the southern limit for this species in New York.
I never saw one in New Jersey. At my home in Montague, P.E.I., Canada, they are quite common. |
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This moth is widely distributed and fairly common.
Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish
the next three species.
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Hemaris thysbe USGS, the Hummingbird Clearwing
This interesting day flier is reported in Tompkins, and
is widely reported to the north, east, south and west.
They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. |
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Hemaris diffinis USGS, the
Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth
This moth is widespread and has been recorded in Tompkins and
in northwestern N.J. and southeastern N.Y. and Connecticut.
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Hemaris gracilis WO, the
Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing
This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in
Tompkins, but has been seen due east, south and west. Questionable.
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Philampelini tribe:
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This moth is reported for Tompkins, and it is fairly often reported
along the coast from southern New Jersey
to central Maine.
Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. |
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If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have
this species.
I often get asked to identify larvae from areas not
previously reported. |
Macroglossini tribe:
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This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you
probably have the Nessus Sphinx. It is reported from
Suffolk.
Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow
bands are often visible on the abdomen.
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This species is rarely recorded in the U.S., but there are sightings in the east
from Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and
New Hampshire.
There are no reports from Tompkins. Very Questionable!
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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.
It is confirmed for Tompkins.
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Darapsa myron USGS, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Tompkins 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. |
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If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the
Hydrangea Sphinx.
It has been reported in Tompkins, but likely is uncommon.
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This species has been recorded in Tompkins and in surrounding areas. |
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Hyles gallii USGS, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth
or Gallium Sphinx
This species is reported in Tompkins. I suspect it would be rare.
Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not.
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Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx
This species is not reported from Tompkins County. It flies across
southern New York and has strong migrating tendancies.
There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. |
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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. It is confirmed for Tompkins.
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