Burlington County, New Jersey
Sphingidae

Eumorpha achemon, Willingboro, Burlington County, New Jersey,
from larva found on virginia Creeper, August, 2010, courtesy of Colleen Magnuson.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information/sightings are welcomed by Bill.

The page is inspired by and dedicated to Ned Hood of Lumberton (Burlington County), New Jersey. Ned has sent me extensive species sightings for Burlington County.

Forty-four Sphingidae species are listed for New Jersey on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Warren County (nineteen are reported on U.S.G.S.). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present, although unreported.

A "NH" indicates the moth is reported by Ned Hood.

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.

Many thanks also to Colleen Magnuson for a series of beautiful images of Eumorpha achemon. Her father found a larva in Willingboro, brought it home, and it emerged about fifteen days after pupation.

Many thanks to Ann-Marie Woods who has confirmed Sphinx poecila, Eumorpha fasciatus in Ocean and/or Burlington counties.

Visit Burlington 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 NH, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth, stray. Strong migrant; adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). Ceratomia amyntor NH/USGS, Elm Sphinx/Four-horned Sphinx. Forewing upperside brown with dark brown and white markings including 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). Ceratomia catalpae NH/USGS, Catalpa Sphinx. Forewing upperside yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The cell spot is gray with a black outline and the upperside of the hindwing is yellowish brown with obscure lines. Ceratomia undulosa NH, 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 NH/USGS, 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 NH/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. Lapara coniferarum USGS, Southern Pine Sphinx. Forewing upperside gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near the wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. Lintneria eremitus NH, Hermit Sphinx Fforewing upperside gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. Manduca jasminearum NH, Ash Sphinx Forewing upperside gray to grayish brown with black line running from middle of 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. Manduca quinquemaculatus NH/USGS, 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 NH, 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 NH/USGS, Carolina Sphinx. Abdomen usually has six pairs of yellow bands, broken across the back. Sixth set of markings quite small. Forewing upperside has indistinct black, brown, and white markings. Paratrea plebeja NH, Plebeian Sphinx Forewing upperside 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 NH, Northern Ash Sphinx/Great Ash Sphinx. Forewing upperside soft dark gray to blue-gray with series of black dashes, one of which reaches wing tip. Sphinx drupiferarum NH, Wild Cherry Sphinx Sphinx drupiferarum larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night. Sphinx franckii USGS, Franck's Sphinx Moth. Forewings outer margin slightly concave in male, but not female. Forewing costal half grey, but posterior portion distinctive warm yellowish-brown; boundary between these two areas is marked with series of dark diagonal streaks. Sphinx gordius NH/USGS, Apple Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. Sphinx kalmiae NH, Laurel Sphinx. Lower forewings predominantly brownish-yellow with a fairly wide dark bar along the inner margin. At rest wings hug body, giving the moth a long slender look. Sphinx poecila A-MW, Poecila Sphinx. If you have blueberries in the woods, then you might have Poecila Sphinx. Pretty common here on Prince Edward Island; surprised to see image confirmation in Ocean and/or Burlington counties by Ann-Marie Woods. Sphinx poecila, Ann-Marie Woods Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis NH, Walnut Sphinx. 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 file for female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, Modest Sphinx, Poplar Sphinx. Large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Larvae are fond of poplars and willows. This species is expected in Burlington County, but I have no official confirmation Paonias astylus NH/USGS, Huckleberry Sphinx. This appears to be an uncommon species. Blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), cherries (Prunus) and willows (Salix) are the favorites as larval foodplants. Paonias excaecata NH/USGS, Blinded Sphinx. Named for dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in hindwing, moth has wide distribution, common in Burlington County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island; reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops NH, Small-eyed Sphinx. Named for small eye-spot in hindwing, this moth has wide distribution; common in Burlington County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island; reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis NH/USGS, 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: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris thysbe NH, 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 NH, Snowberry Clearwing/Bumblebee Moth. Adults mimic bumblebees; quite variable. Wings are basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases and edges. The thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. Hemaris gracilis NH/USGS, Slender Clearwing/Graceful Clearwing. Distinguished from similar species by apair of red-brown bands on undersides of thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. Red abdomen. Hemaris gracilis Tony McBride Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon NH/CM, Achemon Sphinx. Adults nectar on Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), petunia (Petunia hybrida), mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius), phlox (Phlox). Note differences between this moth and Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha achemon, Willingboro, July 2010, Colleen Magnuson Eumorpha fasciatus A-MW, Banded Sphinx. Upperside dark pinkish brown. Each forewing has lighter brown band along costa, sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae: primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) and other plants in evening primrose family. Eumorpha pandorus NH/USGS, the Pandorus Sphinx.If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you probably have this species. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis NH/USGS, Nessus Sphinix. This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. It is reported from Burlington. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus NH/USGS, Azalea Sphinx. They are common in New Jersey and common here on Prince Edward Island, Canada. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. They are probably common in Burlington County. Darapsa myron NH/USGS, Virginia Creeper Sphinx/Grapevine Sphinx. Forewing upperside dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint. Quite common in rural New Jersey where the forewing color contained more green than described above. Darapsa versicolor NH/USGS, Hydrangea Sphinx. The forewing upperside is often greenish brown (photo to right) with curved dark lines and pinkish-white patches. Deidamia inscriptum NH/USGS, Lettered Sphinx. Forewing outer margin deeply scalloped. Upperside light brown with dark brown markings. Small black and white spot near tip. Hindwing upperside orange-brown with adark brown outer margin & median line. Hyles lineata NH, White-lined Sphinx. Forewing upperside dark olive brown with paler brown along costa & outer margin, a narrow tan band running from the wing tip to the base, and white streaks along the veins. Sphecodina abbottii NH, Abbott's Sphinx. 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 NH, Tersa Sphinx. Forewing upperside pale brown with lavender-gray at base and has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Hindwing upperside dark brown with a band of whitish, wedge-shaped marks.

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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