Inspird by and dedicated to Ashley Moritz, February 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Peter Davey, February 10, 2018; February 12, 2018

Sphingidae of Cayman Islands:
Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman


Pachylia ficus fifth instar, Grand Cayman Island,
February 17, 2011, courtesy of Ashley Moritz and Grade 2 students.

Although I believe these "tribal" and very tentative checklists contain species on the Cayman Islands, there are probably some omissions, and there are likely many improper entries as I compiled these lists from what I believe are accurate lists for Cuba (north of Cayman Islands) and Jamaica (southeast of Cayman Islands).

This page is inspired by and dedicated to teacher Ashley Moritz and the students in her Grade 2 Class.

Ashley writes, "I came across your site while trying to identify the large caterpillar one of my Grade 2 students found the other day. Here is the description:
1. We live in the Caribbean, on Grand Cayman Island.
2. My students found the caterpillar crawling across the ground in an area that is made up of rock, small shrubs and sticks.
3. The caterpillar has a black head, red and orange banded back, a black stripe across each of his sides and a bluish stomach, as well as one black tail. It has no hair.
4. The caterpillar is roughly the size and length and girth of an adult's middle finger.

"Any ideas? My students and I are so grateful for any time you spend on identifying "Frank" the caterpillar!"

I replied, "Hi Ashley,

"It sounds like you have found one of the Sphingidae caterpillars, based on size and black tail. Perhaps it is Pachylia ficus. If you can send a digital jpg image, that would really help. It is probably done feeding. If you care for it as per instructions at http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/ManducasextaAugust2008tw.htm, perhaps it will pupate and emerge as a moth in 2-4 weeks. Best of luck. A picture would really help!"

Ashley was able to send the two images on this page, and I was able to confirm the identity as Pachylia ficus.


Pachylia ficus fifth instar, Grand Cayman Island,
February 17, 2011, courtesy of Ashley Moritz and Grade 2 students.

If you have corrections to offer, please contact
Bill Oehlke.

The list below is for Jamaica. Those species followed by C are also found in Cuba, making their presence on Cayman Islands even more likely. Those species followed by a ? are reported from Cuba, but not from Jamaica. Those species followed by a J are reported from Jamaica, but not from Cuba. They may or may not be present.

Those species followed by an X are probably endemic to Cayman Islands.

If you are totally new to the world of Sphingidae, send Bill Oehlke an email with a jpg picture attached, with date and location, and I will try to provide you with an identification.

Many thanks to Peter Davey who sends the two imgaes of Eumorpha fasciatus, not often seen on the Cayman Islands.

Eumorpha fasciatus, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands,
February 10, 2018, courtesy of Peter Davey.

Eumorpha fasciatus, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands,
February 10, 2018, courtesy of Peter Davey.

Sphingini
Agrius cingulata C
Amphonyx haxairei ?
Amphonyx vitrinus ?
Cocytius antaeus J
Cocytius duponchel C
M. a. afflicta ?
M. brontes brontes J
M. rustica cubana C
M. sexta jamaicensis C
Nannoparce poeyi C
Neococyt. cluentius C






























Smerinthini
Adhemar. d. cubanus ?
A. g. jamaicensis J
Protamb. s. strigilis C






































Dilophonotini
Aellopos blaini C
Aellopos clavipes J
Aellopos fadus C
Aellopos tantalus J
Ae. tantalus zonata ?
Call. calliomenae ?
Callionima elainae J
Callionima falcifera C
Callionima gracilis ?
Callionima ramsdeni ?
Enyo boisduvali ?
Enyo lugubris C
Enyo latipennis J
Enyo ocypete C
Erinnyis alope C
Erinnyis crameri C
Erinnyis domingonis C
Erinnyis ello C
Erinnyis guttularis C
Erinnyis lassauxii C
Erinnyis oenotrus C
Erinnyis obscura ?
Erinnyis pallida ?
Eupyrrhogl. sagra ?
Himantoides undata J
Himant. perkinsae J
I. r. jamaicensis J
I. r. rimosus ?
Madoryx oiclus J
M. o. jamaicensis J
Mad. pseudothyreus ?
Pachylia ficus C
Pachylia syces J
P. syces cubensis ?
Pachylio. resumens C
Perigonia divisa ?
Perigo. jamaicensis J
Perigonia lefebvraei ?
Perigonia lusca ?
Phryxus caicus C
Pseudosphinx tetrio C
Philampelini
Eum. fasciatus PD
Eum. labruscae C
Eum. mirificatus ?
Eumorpha satellitia J
E. s. posticatus ?
E. vitis hesperidum J
Eumorpha vitis vitis ?


































Macroglossini
Cautethia grotei C
Caut. g. hilaris X
Caut. g. apira X
Hyles lineata C
X. chiron chiron ?
X. chiron cubanus ?
X. chiron nechus?
X. clarki C
Xylo. jamaicensis ?
Xyl. maculator ?
Xyl. gundlachii ?
Xylophanes irrorata ?
Xylophanes pluto C
X. porcus porcus ?
Xyl. robinsoni ?
Xylophanes tersa C

























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