Camden County, New Jersey
Sphingidae

Paratrea plebeja, New Jersey,
courtesy of Jesse Donovan (JD).

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 Camden County (only one is reported on U.S.G.S.up to July 16, 2007). 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 have no confirmed reports of this species in Camden County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present.

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.

Visit Camden 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: Ceratomia amyntor WO, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx This moth is officially recorded in Gloucester, courtesy of Jesse Donovan. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae WO, the Catalpa Sphinx This species is now recorded for Gloucester. I have seen them in great numbers in other New Jersey counties. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa USGS, the Waved Sphinx This moth is not recorded in Gloucester. I have seen them as far north as P.E.I. in eastern Canada, and took them in New Jersey. It is named for the wavy lines on the forewings. Dolba hyloeus WO, the Pawpaw Sphinx This moth is not recorded in Gloucester. It is widely reported in other New Jersey counties and in Connecticut. Lapara bombycoides WO, the Northern Pine Sphinx This moth is not reported from Gloucester. If you have pines, you probably have this species. It flies on P.E.I. Lapara coniferarum WO, the Southern Pine Sphinx This moth is reported from Gloucester, and it is widely reported in New Jersey and along the coast in Connecticut and Masachusetts. If you've got pines, this species is likely present. Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx This species is not reported in Gloucester. Generally it is not widely reported, but still is a remote possibility. Manduca jasminearum WO, the Ash Sphinx This species is now officially recorded in Gloucester, courtesy of Jesse Donovan. It is reported in New Jersey, southeastern New York and Connecticut. It might be present in Cape May County. Manduca quinquemaculata WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This species is now officially recorded (JD) in Gloucester , and has been seen in nearby counties. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. Manduca rustica WO, the Rustic Sphinx This species is now recorded (Jesse Donovan) in Gloucester, and it has been taken in counties in northeastern and central eastern New Jersey. It may migrate or produce one brood in N.J. each summer. Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. Manduca sexta WO, the Carolina Sphinx This species is now recorded in Gloucester by Jesse Donovan. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it, though. 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 is not reported in Gloucester. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. unlikely Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is not officially reported in Gloucester. 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 Gloucester, 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 WO, the Apple Sphinx This species is not reported in Gloucester. Generally it is widely reported in neighbouring counties. Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies more to the north. Sphinx kalmiae WO, the Laurel Sphinx This species is not officially reported in Gloucester. I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, the Walnut Sphinx This moth is fairly widely reported to the north and east and is now confirmed in Gloucester. This is the first Sphinx species I reared as a boy in New Jersey. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth is not officially recorded in Gloucester County. It is fond of poplars and willows. They are common on Prince Edward Island. Paonias astylus WO, the Huckleberry Sphinx This appears to be an uncommon species. They are now officially recorded for Gloucester, courtesy of Jesse Donavan. Paonias excaecata WO, 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 Gloucester County. 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 common in Gloucester 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. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Hemaris thysbe WO, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is reported in Gloucester, and is widely reported to the north, east and west. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth This moth is widespread but has not been officially recorded in Gloucester. It has been confirmed in northwestern N.J. and southeastern N.Y. and Connecticut. Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in Gloucester, but has been seen in northeastern N.J. and southeastern N.Y. unlikely Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not officially reported for Gloucester, but it is fairly often reported along the coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. 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. 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. It is reported from Richmond. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus 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 not officially confirmed for Gloucester. Darapsa myron WO, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is not recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Gloucester County, but Jesse Donavan confirms its presence. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. Darapsa versicolor WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. It has not been reported in Gloucester County, but I suspect it is Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx This species has not been officialy recorded in Gloucester. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx This species is now officially reported from Gloucester County by Jesse Donovan. It has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. 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. It is likely in Gloucester County.

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.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

This page is brought to you by Bill Oehlke and the WLSS. Pages are on space rented from Bizland. If you would like to become a "Patron of the Sphingidae Site", contact Bill.

Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.

Show appreciation for this site by clicking on flashing butterfly to the left. The link will take you to a page with links to many insect sites.

This website has been created and is maintained by Bill Oehlke without government or institutional financial assistance. All expenses, ie., text reference support material, webspace rental from Bizland, computer repairs/replacements, backups systems, software for image adjustments (Adobe Photoshop; L-View), ftp software, anti-virus protection, scanner, etc. are my own.

I very much appreciate all the many images that have been sent to me, or of which I have been granted permission to copy and post from other websites. All images on this site remain the property of respective photographers.

If you would like to contribute to the maintenace of this website by sending a contribution to

Bill Oehlke
Box 476
155 Peardon Road
Montague, Prince Edward Island, C0A1R0
Canada

your donation would be much appreciated and would be used for
1) paying for webspace rental;
2) paying for computer maintenance and software upgrades;
3) purchases of additional text reference material (journals and books) in anticipation of expanding the site to a worldwide Sphingidae site;
4) helping to pay my daughter's tuition (completed spring 2013); with anything left over going to humanitarian aid.

If you are mailing a check from USA, please use $0.85 postage. ($1.15 is 2014 rate so check with post office as rates seem to be rising almost annually.) Donations can also be made through Paypal via the button below.