Paulding County, Ohio
Sphingidae Larvae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Kylee Baumle who sent the images of the Hemaris diffinis larva, top and bottom of this page.

Kylee writes, November 5, 2007, "I thought you might be interested in these photos I took of Snowberry Clearwing Moth caterpillars (isn't that correct?) found on our Lonicera in September. The green ones were there almost all summer, but this is the only one I saw in the brown stage of development. I even saw a teeny tiny one that was probably no longer than a quarter inch long. I can't believe I actually saw that one.

"We had clearwings a LOT in the garden this year. It was the first time we'd ever seen one and at first I thought it was a hummingbird, but as soon as I got closer, I could see that it wasn't. Then I thought it was a big bumblebee! LOL. I love these beautiful things and am entranced by them when they're visiting."

Kylee also observed an adult Agrius cingulata moth in her yard in October. I indicated that Agrius cingulata would likely only be present in her area as a late summer/fall migrant stray from further south. It would be unlikely to find larvae of that species in her area.

For care of "found larvae/caterpillars" visit Manduca sexta larva, central Texas, August 21, 2008, Trina Woodall.

Thirty-three Sphingidae species are listed for Ohio on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Paulding County. It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the larvae you are likely to encounter.

A "WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in Paulding County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this species is present or might be present. A "KB" indicates the moth or its larva is reported by Kylee Baumle.

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 send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent on-line resource.

Visit Paulding County Sphingidae: Adult Moths.

Visit < ahref=Ohiocatocala.htm>Ohio Catocala: Underwing Moths.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, KB Pink-spotted hawkmoth. Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), (Datura) (jimsonweed), related plants. Also brown form. Look for very large, dark spiracular circles. migrant stray as adult moth Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx, Four-horned Sphinx: Both brown and green forms; four horns on thorax (near head). Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae WO, Catalpa Sphinx: Gregarious feeders. Colouration distinctive. Larvaee much more spectacular than moths. Catalpa. Ceratomia undulosa WO, Waved Sphinx: Pinkish-orange tail, spiracles outlined in red, cream stripes on head. Dramatic color change from dorsal yellow-green to lateral light greyish-blue not always as intense as shown. Dolba hyloeus WO, Pawpaw Sphinx: Smooth skin, blue-black horn, small black spiracles. Pawpaw, Littleleaf sweetfern, possum haw, inkberry, tall gallberry holly. Lapara bombycoides WO, Northern Pine Sphinx: This caterpillar is also without the anal horn and feeds on pines. The long stripes and reddish brown afford great camouflage. Lapara coniferarum WO, Southern Pine Sphinx: This caterpillar is also without the anal horn and feeds on pines. The long stripes and reddish brown afford great camouflage. Lintneria eremitus WO, Hermit Sphinx: Note triangular bump on the thorax. Beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), sage (Salvia). Manduca jasminearum WO, Ash Sphinx: Larvae feed on ash in the Fraxinus genus. Syringa and Ulmus have also been reported. Note black anal horn. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, Five-spotted Hawkmoth: Solid black horn, dark spiracular rings. In addition to the white oblique lines, there are fainter white rings, especially on back. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. Manduca rustica WO, Rustic Sphinx: Note green horn, raised white bumps, strong dark lines anterior to white ones. Manduca sexta WO, the Carolina Sphinx Note the red horn and black dots anterior to the white oblique lines. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Paratrea plebeja WO, Plebeian Sphinx: Feed at night, hiding on dtem undersides by day. Common trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans), Florida yellow-trumpet (Tecoma stans), lilac (Syringa species), passionflower (Passiflora species). Questionable Sphinx canadensis WO, Canadian Sphinx: Uncommon at lights, not often reported. May feed exclusively black ash (Fraxinus nigra). Variable appearance, always with granulous (darker protrusions) on pinkish horn. Sphinx chersis WO, Northern Ash Sphinx, Great Ash Sphinx: Pale blue horn, creamy-white stripes on head. Yellow form with red horn. Ash, lilac, privet, cherry and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, Wild Cherry Sphinx: Hide in day, feed primarily on cherry, plum, apple at night, on Amelanchier nantuckensis in Massachusetts; in Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines. Sphinx kalmiae WO, the Laurel Sphinx In the final instar, the black on the head, lateral lines, horn and on abdominal legs is diagnostic. Larvae feed primarily on lilac and fringe. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, the Walnut Sphinx Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans), hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus), hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya). Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth is not officially recorded in Bucks County. It is fond of poplars and willows. Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada. Paonias myops WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx Wild cherry species are the favorites as larval foodplants, but eggs will also be deposited on birches and other forest trees. There are varying degrees in the amount of red markings along the sides. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, Cerisy's Sphinx; Cerisyi larvae greatly resemble modesta larvae, both being pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from the head to a more pronounced anal diagonal line. Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with a pale yellow inverted "V". Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries, but are expecially fond of poplars and willows. Red markings on sides vary greatly from specimen to specimen. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris thysbe WO, the Hummingbird Clearwing There is also an orangey-pink prepupal form. The lateral line runs from S1 to the blue horn. Hemaris thysbe larvae feed on viburnum and related plants. Hemaris diffinis KB, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane (Apocynum) and dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Horn is black with a yellow base. Hemaris gracilis WO, 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. unlikely Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis). Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown) form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines. Eumorpha pandorus WO, the Pandorus Sphinx If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter this species. Note the five large white ovals. There are orangey-brown and green forms also. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis WO, the Nessus Sphinix In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum). Larvae are green until the final instar. Darapsa choerilus WO, the Azalea Sphinx Larvae feed on Azalea and Viburnum and progress very rapidly. The larva to the left on Viburnum cassinoides is getting ready to pupate. Color change from green to light burgundy-brown indicates pupation is imminent. Darapsa myron WO, 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. Larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum. Darapsa versicolor WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx Larvae feed on Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), and waterwillow (Decodon verticillatus). Note small head which can be retracted into the thorax. Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. The alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back distinguish this larva. Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx Larvae are highly varied and feed on a great diversity of plants including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon), purslane (Portulaca), and Fuschia. All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines. Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx Larvae feed at night on grape (Vitis) and ampelopsis (Ampelopsis) and hide on the bark of their host plants during the day. Virginia creeper would also be a suitable host. There is also a dark form without the green patches. Note the "raised eye", replacing the anal horn. Xylophanes tersa WO, the Tersa Sphinx Larvae feed on Borreria, Catalpa and Manettia spp. and Smooth buttonplant (Spermacoce glabra) and starclusters (Pentas species). They are also recorded on joe-pie weed and Hamelia patens and on Hedoydis nigricans. The green form may be more common.

Hemaris diffinis, brown form, Paulding County, courtesy of Kylee Baumle.

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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