Oswego County, New York, and nearby Counties:
Lewis and Oneida

Forty-six Sphingidae species are listed for New York on the U.S.G.S. (now BAMONA) website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Oswego County (only ten 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 have no confirmed reports of this species in Oswego County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present.

Randy Lyttle of Hannibal, New York, (RL) has recently (June 6, 2005) sent me a confirmation list. I have added Randy's sightings. Thanks, Randy!

Although this page was originally designed to cover just Oswego County, it should also be valid for the nearby counties of Lewis and oneida.

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 Sphingidae of the Americas to access similar Sphingidae lists for all US states and counties, all Canadian provinces, Mexico, all Central and South American countries. For many of the US counties there are larvae thumbnail checklists available via the individual state files.

Visit North American Catocala to access pictoral checklists for Catocala (underwing moths) for all US states and all Canadian provinces.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Pink-spotted hawkmoth -- (Agrius cingulata) USGS stray This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to Oswego as a rare stray. There are not too many records from New York state. Ceratomia amyntor WO RL, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is light brown and has a dark brown band along the outer margin. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia undulosa WO RL, 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. Some individuals are very dark, almost black, and others are light yellowish brown. Dolba hyloeus WO, 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 WO, 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. The underside is rather plain Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing is gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two white bands and a triangular black patch at the base. Note the golden hair on the thorax. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO RL, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth. Abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. Fw upperside blurry brown and gray. Hw upperside banded with brown and white, two well-separated median zigzag bands. Fw fringes are grayish, not distinctly spotted with white. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere. The absence of the white spot on each forewing and the more brownish coloration serve to separate canadensis from S. poecilus. The hindwing fringe also tends to be white on poecilus and checkered brownish on canadensis. Sphinx chersis USGS, the Northern Ash Sphinx or 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. The upperside of the hindwing is black with blurry pale gray bands Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum USGS RL, the Wild Cherry Sphinx. The forewing is dull slate grey with considerable light grey scaling in a broad band along the costa about 3/4 of distance from body toward the apex. Median lines are black and thin. There is a wavy, diffuse dark subterminal line, inwardly bordered by white, and a whitish bar in terminal area, paralleling outer margin. Sphinx gordius WO, the 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 USGS RL, 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. Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx. The upperside of the forewing is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with a faint yellow tint in females. In both sexes, the dark border on the outer margin widens as it approaches the inner margin. The upperside of the hindwing is deep yellow in males, pale yellow in females; both with a wide black border. Sphinx poecila WO, the Poecila Sphinx. Fringes: Fw: checkered black and white; Hw: almost pure white (lightly checked with grey). Fw: dark gray with diffuse black and gray wavy lines with series of black dashes ending at wing tip, and white cell spot. Cell spot readily distinguishes poecila from canadensis. Hw: brownish gray with wide black border and black median line. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis USGS RL, 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. Pachysphinx modesta USGS RL, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Larvae are fond of poplars and willows. Paonias excaecata WO RL, the Blinded Sphinx. Fw outer margin is quite wavy. Dark cell spot and dark oblique line mid wing from costa almost to inner margin. Ground colour is pinkish brown. At rest the lower wings are almost completely hidden. Males demonstrate a strong curve to the abdomen. Gets its name from blue-gray pupil surrounded by black, with hot pink wing scales in hw basal area. Paonias myops USGS RL, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Oswego County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus cerisyi WO RL, the Cerisyi's Sphinx This species is now recorded in Oswego, and is recorded in Tomkins and Tioga. At my home in Montague, P.E.I., Canada, they are quite common. Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS RL, 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 diffinis WO RL, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth This moth is widely distributed and has been reported in Oneida and in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Hemaris gracilis BAM, 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. They have a red abdomen. Hemaris thysbe WO RL, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is now reported in Oswego, and is widely reported to the north, east and south. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO; questionable, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not reported for Oswego, but it is fairly often reported along the coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine so may be present, but is generally more southerly. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha pandorus WO RL, 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 RL, the Nessus Sphinix This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx, and it is now reported from Oswego. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus USGS RL, 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. Darapsa myron WO RL, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is not recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Oswego County, but Randy Lyttle confirms its presence. 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 USGS RL, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. It has not been widely reported north of Oswego, however, and probably is uncommon. Deidamia inscriptum WO RL, the Lettered Sphinx This species has been recorded in northeastern New York, and has been reported to the south so might be present (now confirmed). It is generally absent to the north so would be uncommon, although I have reports from Ontario, Canada. Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is not reported in Oswego, but it has been reported in Onandaga and generally is a more northerly species. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata WO RL, the White-lined Sphinx This species is now reported from Oswego County, but it flies across southern New York and has strong migrating tendancies. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. Proserpinus flavofasciata WO, the Yellow-banded Day Sphinx Adults fly as a single brood from April-June in meadows in coniferous forests. Adults fly during the afternoon. Sphecodina abbottii WO RL, 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.

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Randy Lyttle writes, "From my own blacklight collecting, I can confirm the presence the following species from your website in Oswego County:
Ceratomia amyntor
Ceratomia undulosa
Manduca quinquemaculata
Sphinx drupiferarum
Sphinx kalmiae
Amorpha juglandis
Pachysphinx modesta
Paonias excaecata
Paonias myops
Smerinthus cerisyi
Smerinthus jamaicensis
Hemaris thysbe
Hemaris diffinis
Eumorpha pandorus
Amphion floridensis
Darapsa pholus (choerilus)
Darapsa myron
Darapsa versicolor
Deidamia inscripta
Hyles lineata
Sphecodina abbotti.

"I will be providing date and locale records for these and probably a few other species once I am able to finish up going through the specimens and notebooks."

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