Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
|
Agrius cingulata,
WO Pink-spotted Hawkmoth:
Larvae feed on plants in Convolvulaceae family, especially
Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) and in Solanaceae family,
especially (Datura) (jimsonweed) and related plants. Also brown form. Look for very large, dark
spiracular circles.
|
|
Ceratomia amyntor
WO,
the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx:
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood
(Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).
There are both green and brown forms. The four horns near
the head are diagnostic. |
|
Ceratomia catalpae
WO,
the Catalpa Sphinx:
Young caterpillars feed gregariously on Catalpa species
(Catalpa bignoniodes and C. speciosa) in the
Bignoniaceae family, skeletonizing the foliage.
Larvae are mostly white in early instars.
|
|
Ceratomia undulosa
WO,
the Waved Sphinx:
Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Quercus, Crataegus and
Chionanthus virginicus are listed as hosts.
In the fifth instar, the spiracular ovals are decidedly red and the
anal horn is off-white to pinkish laterally.
|
|
Dolba hyloeus
WO,
the Pawpaw Sphinx
Larvae feed on pawpaw (Asimina triloba), littleleaf sweetfern
(Myrica aspleniifolia), possum haw (Ilex decidua), and
inkberry (Ilex glabra) as well as Tall Gallberry Holly
(Ilex coriacea).
Louis Handfield reports larvae probably feed on Ilex verticellata
in Quebec.
|
|
Isoparce cupressi
WO,
Cypress or Baldcypress Sphinx.
Larvae feed on needles of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) at night and
pupate in shallow underground burrows where second generation
overwinters.
|
|
Lapara coniferarum
WO,
the Southern Pine Sphinx:
Larvae feed upon various pine species, including loblolly pine
(Pinus taeda) and longleaf pine (P. pinaster). They are well
camouflaged and are without an anal horn.
|
|
Manduca jasminearum
WO,
the Ash Sphinx:
Larvae feed on ash in the Fraxinus genus. Syringa and Ulmus have
also been reported.
Note the black anal horn.
|
|
Manduca quinquemaculatus
WO,
the Five-spotted Hawkmoth:
The caterpillars are called Tomato Hornworms and each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen.
Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the
nightshade family (Solanaceae).
|
|
Manduca rustica
B&MH,Rustic Sphinx:
Larva: numerous white nodules on dorsal thorax;
seven pairs of oblique, blue-gray stripes along body side.
Granulose horn: white at base, blue-gray at tip.
|
Manduca rustica fifth instar, August 15, 2013, Bob and Marsha Hamlin.
|
Manduca sexta
WO,
the Carolina Sphinx:
Tobacco Hornworms, equipped with a red-tipped horn at the end of the
abdomen, are true gluttons and feed on tobacco and tomato, and
occasionally potato and pepper crops and other plants in the
nightshade family (Solanaceae).
|
|
Paratrea plebeja
WO,
Plebeian Sphinx:Preferred hosts are common trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans),
Florida yellow-trumpet (Tecoma stans), lilac
(Syringa species), and
passionflower (Passiflora species).
Blue anal horn, preceded by yellow dash.
|
|
Larvae feed exclusively on various species of ash (Fraxinus).
Raised, pointed bumps, especially near the head and thorax give this
caterpillar a reptilian appearance.
|
|
Laurel Sphinx larvae feed primarily on lilac and fringe.
Larvae have also been found on privet.
|
Smerinthini Tribe:
|
Amorpha juglandis
WO,
Walnut Sphinx:
Larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans),
hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus),
hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya).
|
|
Pachysphinx modesta
WO,
the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx
Larvae feed on poplars and cottonwood.
|
|
Blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), cherries (Prunus) and willows (Salix) are the favorites as larval foodplants.
This appears to be an uncommon species.
|
|
Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries.
I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada.
The skin is very granulose.
|
|
The larvae depicted is probably third instar.
There may be more red spotting on the sides
as larvae mature.
|
|
Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries,
but are expecially fond of poplars and willows. Red markings on sides
vary greatly from specimen to specimen.
|
Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini tribe:
|
Enyo lugubris, the Mournful Sphinx,
WO:
The body and wings are dark brown. The forewing has a large black
patch covering most of the outer half of the wing. There is a pale
tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), and a fairly straight median line
to the inside of the cell spot. Some larvae have extensive reddish brown
areas.
|
|
Hemaris thysbe
BAMONA,
the Hummingbird Clearwing:
There is also an orangey-pink prepupal form. The lateral line runs
from S1 to the blue horn.
Hemaris thysbe larvae feed on viburnum and related plants.
|
|
Hemaris diffinis
WO,
the Snowberry Clearwing, Bumblebee Moth:
Host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos),
honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane
(Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
Horn: black with yellow base.
|
Philampelini tribe:
|
Eumorpha achemon
WO,
the Achemon Sphinx:
Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper
(Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies
(Ampelopsis).
Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown)
form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines.
|
|
Eumorpha fasciatus
BAMONA, Banded Sphinx:
Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose)
and other plants in evening primrose family. Highly variable hornless larva. Look for large, dark spiracular circles and dark
line center of back.
|
|
Eumorpha intermedia
WO??, generally coastal, the Intermediate Sphinx.
Eumorpha intermedia larvae feed upon peppervine, Ampelopsis arborea. Possibly they will also accept grape (Vitis species),
but so far no records of that host have been reported to my knowledge.
They like to remain well hidden within tangle of vines and probably feed mostly at night.
|
|
Eumorpha pandorus
WO,
the Pandorus Sphinx:
If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter
this species. Note the five large white ovals. There are orangey-brown and green
forms also.
|
Macroglossini tribe:
|
Amphion floridensis
WO,
the Nessus Sphinix:
In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis),
ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum).
Larvae are green until the final instar.
|
|
Darapsa choerilus
WO,
the Azalea Sphinx:
Larvae feed on Azalea and Viburnum and progress very rapidly. The
larva to the left on Viburnum cassinoides is getting ready to
pupate. Color change from green to light burgundy-brown indicates
pupation is imminent. |
|
Darapsa myron
WO,
the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx: If you have the
foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this
species nearby. The lower wings are orange.
Larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),
Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum.
|
|
Darapsa versicolor
WO,
the Hydrangea Sphinx:
Larvae turn deep chocolate brown just prior to pupation, anal
"horn" also turns downward as pupation draws near.
Larvae feed on Smooth hydrangea
(Hydrangea arborescens), buttonbush
(Cephalanthus occidentalis), waterwillow
(Decodon verticillatus).
|
|
Deidamia inscriptum
WO,
the Lettered Sphinx:
Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts.
The alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back
distinguish this larva.
|
|
Hyles lineata
WO,
White-lined Sphinx:
Larvae: highly varied; feed on great diversity of plants
including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis),
apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm
(Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon),
purslane (Portulaca), Fuschia.
Larvae seem to have red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines.
|
|
Proserpinus guarae
WO,
Proud Sphinx: Larvae feed on (Onagraceae) including evening primrose
(Oenothera), gaura (Gaura), and willow weed
(Epilobium).
rare, generally more westerly
|
|
Sphecodina abbottii
WO,
Abbott's Sphinx:
Larvae feed at night on grape (Vitis) and ampelopsis
(Ampelopsis) and hide on the bark of their host plants during
the day. Virginia creeper would also be a suitable host. There is also a dark form
without the green patches. Note the "raised eye", replacing the anal horn.
|
|
Xylophanes tersa
BAMONA,
Tersa Sphinx:
Larvae also feed on Borreria, Catalpa and Manettia spp. and
Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra), starclusters
(Pentas species), joe-pie weed,
Hamelia patens, Hedoydis nigricans. The green form may be more
common.
|
|
|