Stone County, Missouri
Sphingidae

Hemaris thysbe, Lampe, Stone County, Missouri,
July 30, 2010, courtesy of Sharon Sargent.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Sharon Sargent who sent me the picture of Hemaris thysbe (top of page) from Lampe (Stone County), Missouri.

Sharon writes, July 30, 2010, "You have a beautiful site and I am pretty darn sure this is Hemaris thysbe although this is the first one I have ever seen.

"I have never seen these in our area and I have lived here for 25 + years. Found this guy feeding off my giant phlox. These pictures are taken through my front window. I did think it was a hummingbird ... a very small one! I live in Lampe, Missouri, which is southwest of Branson and about 6 miles from the Arkansas line. Thought you might be interested about this sighting. Have they always been in this area or is this something unusual? Thanks."

I replied, "You are correct. It is Hemaris thysbe. They fly throughout Missouri and throughout most of the eastern half of US and southern Canada.

"I would like permission to post images, credited to you, to a Stone County pictoral checklists that I will create?"

Plant some moonflowers and phlox. The Sphingidae love them and will provide you with some wonderment and excitement. Some of these moths fly at dusk, some in the dark of the night and some even in brood daylight. A nice butterfly bush will bring in the Hemaris species as well as Amphion floridensis. Mints, phlox, evening primrose, four 0'clocks, French lilacs are also powerful attractants

Fourty-nine Sphingidae species are listed for Missouri on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Stone County (thirteen on USGS as of July 31, 2010). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.

Moths that I expect may be in Stone County, although not officially recorded, are indicated by a "WO".

A "USGS" indicates the moth is reported on the USGS website and/or in Lepidoptera of North America, #1. Distribution of Silkmoths (Saturniidae) and Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) of Eastern North America, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an electronic image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

The night-blooming moon flower will attract many Sphingidae at dusk and into the night.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, WO as an unlikely stray Pink-spotted hawkmoth, This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). Ceratomia amyntor WO, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx 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. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia hageni USGS, Hagen's Sphinx or Osage Orange Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray with a green tint and has dark indistinct wavy lines, and pale gray patches at the wing tip and along the costa. Ceratomia undulosa USGS, 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. Manduca jasminearum WO, unlikely, generally more easterly, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is mostly black, with gray at the lower margin. Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata. Manduca rustica WO, the Rustic Sphinx Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. 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, the Carolina Sphinx If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in the larval stage. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. 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. Sphinx chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx This species might be present in Stone County. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx The costa rgion in the basal and median areas is light grey and so is the terminal area of the forewing. The rest of the forewing is dark slatey-grey. Sphinx vashti WO, the Snowberry Sphinx, Snowberry Sphinx adults fly as a single brood in montane woodlands and along prairie streamcourses from April to August. The upperside of the forewing has a narrow black subterminal line bordered by a white inverted V-shaped line on the outside, and a black line at the apex. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis USGS, 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. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Forewings are grey and brown with diffuse lines. Paonias astylus WO, the Huckleberry Sphinx Generally, Paonias astylus, the Huckleberry Sphinx (wingspan 55-65 mm), ranges from Maine south to Florida, west to Missouri and Mississippi. Paonias excaecata USGS, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution in the eastern United States. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably found in many Missouri counties. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. 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. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Aellopos fadus WO, unlikely stray, the Titan Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to above species, but the upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. very rare stray Aellopos titan WO, unlikely stray, the Titan Sphinx. The body is dark brown with a wide white stripe across the abdomen. The wings are dark brown. It is very similar to above species, but the upperside of the hindwing has pale patches along the costa and inner margin. stray Erinnyis ello WO, unlikely stray, the Ello Sphinx The abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. The female's forewing upperside is pale gray with a few dark dots near the outer margin. stray Erinnyis obscura, the Obscure Sphinx, WO, unlikely stray During the night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) and Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk. July and August are flight times in the southern states. stray See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next two species. Hemaris thysbe USGS/SS, 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, Lampe, July 30, 2010, Sharon Sargent. Hemaris diffinis USGS, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Adults mimic bumblebees and are quite variable. The wings are basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases and edges. The thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. The abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments before the tip. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha fasciatus WO, unlikely, the Banded Sphinx The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae feed upon primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in the evening primrose family. Eumorpha pandorus WO, the 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 not previously reported. Eumorpha vitis WO, unlikely stray, the Vine Sphinx The upperside of the moth is dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has a lighter brown band along the costa, and sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. The hindwing has a pink patch on the inner margin. stray Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis WO, 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 USGS, the Azalea Sphinx The lower wings of this hawkmoth are a solid brownish-orange, matching the body colour. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. usually more easterly Darapsa myron USGS, 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. Darapsa versicolor WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the Hydrangea Sphinx. rare Deidamia inscriptum USGS, the Lettered Sphinx The moth's outer margin of the forewing is deeply scalloped. The upperside is light brown with dark brown markings. There is a small black and white spot near the tip. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. Hyles lineata USGS, the White-lined Sphinx This species has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. Proserpinus guarae WO, the Proud Sphinx The abdomen may have a pale band running across the rear. The wings are brown. The forewing sometimes has a greenish tint and may have the median area darker. The lines bordering the median area are curved. The hindwing has a reddish brown border. slight possibility Proserpinus juanita WO, the Juanita Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale gray-green with a deep green-brown median area and a white dash at the wing tip. rare Sphecodina abbottii WO, 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. Xylophanes tersa USGS, the Tersa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale brown with lavender-gray at the base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

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