Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Ceratomia amyntor
USGS.
Forewing brown with dark brown and white markings including a white costal area near wing base, dark streaks along veins, and white spot in cell.
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and
cherry (Prunus). |
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This is generally a more southerly species, but it has been recorded
to the south and west of Lapeer and may be present. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more
spectacular than the moths.
Catalpa is the larval host. unlikely |
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Ceratomia undulosa
USGS,
Waved Sphinx.
Forewing 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.
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Dolba hyloeus
WO, Pawpaw Sphinx
Forewing dark brown with dusting of white scales. Some moths
have patches of reddish or yellowish brown on wings.
This moth is recorded to the south in Oakland County.
Larve are not limited to pawpaw.
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Lapara bombycoides
USGS,
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.
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Lintneria eremitus USGS,
Hermit Sphinx.
Forewing gray-brown with wavy lines, black
dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the
costa. |
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Manduca quinquemaculata
USGS, Five-spotted Hawkmoth.
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
WO, Carolina Sphinx.
Not recorded in LaPeer, which may be north of its
range. If you grow tomatoes, however, you might encounter it.
Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. unlikely
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Sphinx canadensis
WO,
Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx, uncommon, and is not
often reported anywhere, but it might possibly be present in Lapeer
County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry
(Vaccinium).
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Sphinx chersis
USGS, 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. |
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Sphinx drupiferarum
USGS, Wild Cherry
Sphinx.
This species is present in Lapeer County. 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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Sphinx kalmiae
USGS, 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.
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Sphinx luscitiosa
USGS,
the Canadian Sphinx or
Clemen's Sphinx.
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.
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Sphinx poecila USGS, 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,
but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts, being replaced by
Sphinx gordius in Connecticut. |
Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis
USGS,
Walnut Sphinx.
This moth is also reporterd in Lapeer County.
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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Paonias excaecata
USGS, Blinded Sphinx.
Forewing outer margin quite wavy. 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 USGS,
the Small-eyed Sphinx.
This small species is probably widespread and common. This species
ranges across North America.
The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow
background.
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Pachysphinx modesta
USGS,
Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx.
This large poplar/willow feeder is reported in Lapeer County.
They are a heavy bodied species.
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Smerinthus cerisyi
USGS, Cerisyi's
Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows.
Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. It is confirmed in Lapeer County.
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Smerinthus jamaicensis
USGS,
Twin-spotted Sphinx.
This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, and it is recorded in Oakland.
Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. |
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini Tribe:
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Hemaris diffinis
WO, Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee 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 thysbe
RW, Hummingbird Clearwing.
This interesting day flier is confirmed for Lapeer by Robert Woods.
They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. |
Philampelini Tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon WO,
Achemon Sphinx.
Not reported for Lapeer,
but 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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Eumorpha pandorus USGS,
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:
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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.
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Darapsa choerilus USGS,
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. |
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Darapsa myron
USGS, Virginia Creeper Sphinx or
Grapevine Sphinx.
This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Oakland 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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Darapsa versicolor
USGS,
Hydrangea Sphinx.
If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the
Hydrnagea Sphinx. However, it
probably is uncommon.
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Deidamia inscriptum
USGS,
Lettered Sphinx.
This species has been recorded just to the south in Oakland County.
It is also seen in southern Ontario. |
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Hyles gallii
WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth
or Gallium Sphinx.
This species is not reported in Lapeer, but it has been recorded in
counties to the south and east. 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 USGS, 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. |
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Sphecodina abbottii
WO, 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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Xylophanes tersa WO,
Tersa Sphinx.
This moth is much more common to the south and east. It is a strong
migrant, however, and may stray to Lapeer. unlikely
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