Atlantic County, New Jersey
Sphingidae

Lapara bombycoides, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Tom Hupf of Hammonton who sent me a listing of thirty species he has personally seen in Atlantic County.

Those species seen by Tom are designated with TH.

Jesse Donovan (JD) adds Paratrea plebeja.

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed for New Jersey on the BAMONA website as of August 6, 2014. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Atlantic County.

Thirteen species, Agrius cingulata, Lapara bombycoides, Manduca rustica, M. sexta, Paonias astylus, P. excaecata, Sphinx drupiferarum, S. gordius, Amphion floridensis, Darapsa choerilus, D. myron, Eumorpha pandorus, Hemaris thysbe,, are reported on BAMONA as of August 6, 2014.

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the caterpillars you are likely to encounter.

I (William Oehlke) have added many species not listed by BAMONA which I expect are present or might be present, although unreported.

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.

Please also forward you sightings to BAMONA, an excellent on-line resource.

Visit Atlantic County Sphingidae Larvae: Caterpillars; Hornworms

Visit New Jersey Catocala: Underwing Moths

If you are travelling, you can find active Sphingidae checklists for all countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbbean via the links at North, Central, South American Sphingidae checklists

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, USGS Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to Atlantic County as a rare stray. There are not too many records from New York state, but records exist for NJ and CT. Ceratomia amyntor TH, 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 TH, the Catalpa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa TH, 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. Dolba hyloeus TH, the Pawpaw Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with a dusting of white scales. Some moths have patches of reddish or yellowish brown on the wings. Lapara bombycoides TH, the 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. Lapara coniferarum TH, the Southern Pine Sphinx The upperside is of the forewing is gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near the wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx This species is not officially reported in Atlantic County. Generally it is not widely reported. Manduca jasminearum WO, the Ash Sphinx. This species is not officially recorded in Atlantic County. It is reported in New Jersey, southeastern New York and Connecticut. It might be present in Atlantic County. Manduca quinquemaculatus TH, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. Manduca rustica TH, the Rustic Sphinx. The abdomen of the adult moth has three pairs of yellow spots. 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 TH/ USGS, the Carolina Sphinx This species is recorded in Atlantic County. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Paratrea plebeja JD, 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, Northern Ash Sphinx; 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. unlikely Sphinx drupiferarum TH/ USGS, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is officially reported in Atlantic County. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. Sphinx franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth This species is not reported in Atlantic County, and generally it is not widely reported anywhere. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks the dark bar along the fw inner margin. remote possibility Sphinx gordius TH/ USGS, the Apple Sphinx This species is reported in Atlantic County. Generally it is widely reported in neighbouring counties. Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies more to the north. Sphinx kalmiae TH, the 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. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis TH, 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. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta TH, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Paonias astylus TH/ USGS, the Huckleberry Sphinx This appears to be an uncommon species. They are officially recorded for Atlantic County, and they are reported for northeastern New Jersey and Connecticut. Paonias excaecata TH, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Atlantic County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops TH, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Atlantic County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. likely present Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris thysbe TH, 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 diffinis TH, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Adults mimic bumblebees and are quite variable, both geographically and seasonally. The wings are basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases and edges. Hemaris gracilis TH, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing Hemaris gracilis is distinguished from similar species by a pair of red-brown bands on the undersides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon TH, the Achemon Sphinx. Adults nectar from flowers of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), petunia (Petunia hybrida), mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius), and phlox (Phlox). Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha pandorus TH, 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. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis TH, the Nessus Sphinix. This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. It is reported from Atlantic County by Tom Hupf. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Cautethia grotei WO, the Grote's Sphinx 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 reports from nearby Cape May County. Darapsa choerilus TH/ USGS, the 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. It is confirmed for Atlantic County. Darapsa myron TH, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx. This moth is not recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Atlantic 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. Darapsa versicolor TH, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. Tom Hupf reports it in Atlantic County. Deidamia inscriptum TH, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is orange-brown with a dark brown outer margin and median line. Hyles lineata TH, the White-lined Sphinx The forewing upperside is dark olive brown with paler brown along the costa and outer margin, a narrow tan band running from the wing tip to the base, and white streaks along the veins. Sphecodina abbottii TH, 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. It is confirmed in Atlantic County by Tom Hupf. Xylophanes tersa TH, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however, and may establish itself in Atlantic County periodically.

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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