Pennington County, South Dakota, and Nearby Counties:
Bennett; Custer; Fall River; Haakon; Jackson; Shannon
Sphingidae

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Lynne Steinley who provides the Eumorpha achemon images on this page.

This page will also serve as a checklist for the following southwestern counties in South Dakota: Bennett; Custer; Fall River; Haakon; Jackson; Shannon.

Twenty-four Sphingidae species are listed for South Dakota on the BAMONA website as of August 3, 2019. Most of those species plus some additions are anticipated in Pennington County (eleven are reported from Pennington County on BAMONA as of August 3, 2019). It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moth larvaee 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. A "Pennington" indicates the moth is reported on BAMONA and/or in Lepidoptera of North America, #1. Distribution of Sphingidae of Western North America, an excellent little booklet available through Paul Opler. This booklet shows none for your county, but it provides useful data for interpolations.

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 resource, via link at top of page or to the left.

Pennington: Ceratomia undulosa; Manduca quinquemaculatus; Sphinx vashti; Pachysphinx occidentalis; Smerinthus cerisyi; Hemaris diffinis; Eumorpha achemon; Amphion floridensis; Hyles gallii; Hyles lineata; Proserpinus juanita;

Bennett: Sphinx vashti; Smerinthus jamaicensis; Hyles lineata;

Custer: Ceratomia amyntor; Sphinx chersis; Sphinx vashti; Paonias myops; Smerinthus cerisyi; Hemaris diffinis; Hyles lineata;

Fall River: Hemaris diffinis; Eumorpha achemon; Hyles lineata;

Haakon: Ceratomia undulosa; Pachysphinx modesta; Paonias myops; Hemaris diffinis;

Jackson: Manduca quinquemaculatus; Paonias myops; Eumorpha achemon; Hyles euphorbiae;

Shannon: Sphinx vashti; Hemaris diffinis.

Visit Pennington County Sphingidae Larvae/caterpillars.

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Visit South Dakota Catocala: Underwing Moths

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia amyntor WO/Custer, 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 undulosa WO/Pennington/Haakon, 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. It is named for the wavy lines on the forewings. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO/Pennington/Jackson, 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. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. Sphinx chersis WO/Custer, 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. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Forewings, long and slender, are held close to the body when the moth is at rest. 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. Sphinx vashti WO/Pennington/Bennett/Custer/Shannon, the Snowberry Sphinx The upperside of the forewing has a narrow black subterminal line bordered by a white inverted V-shaped line on the outside, and a black line running inwards from the apex of the wing. It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses. Amorpha juglandis WO?? generally more eastery, 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. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO/Haakon, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx It is fond of poplars and willows. This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Pachysphinx occidentalis Pennington; the Big Poplar Sphinx This one is quite similar to Pachysphinx modesta, with modesta being smaller and darker. There are two color forms: the upperside of the forewings is yellow brown in the pale form and dark gray in the dark form. Lines and bands are well-defined. Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx The outer margin of the forewing is quite wavy. There is a dark cell spot and a dark oblique line mid wing from the costa almost to the inner margin. Basic ground colour is pinkish brown. Paonias myops WO/Custer/Haakon/Jackson, the Small-eyed Sphinx. Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution. Both sexes rest with wings parallel to the resting surface, with the upper lobes of the hindwings protruding above the forewings. Smerinthus cerisyi WO/Pennington/Custer, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx:Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO/Bennett/Custer, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Hemaris thysbe WO, 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 WO/Pennington/Fall River/Haakon/Shannon, 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. The thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon LS/Pennington/Fall River/Jackson, 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. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis, Pennington, Nessus Sphinix. This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa myron WO, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx The forewing upperside is dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint. On the costal margin there is a dark rectangular patch, although this may be reduced or absent. The upperside of the hindwing is pale orange. Hyles euphorbiae WO/Jackson, the Spurge Hawk Moth The body is light brown with various white and dark brown markings, while the wings have a conspicuous tan, brown, and pink or red color pattern. Hyles gallii WO/Pennington, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx Larvae feed on Epilobium angustifolium and Galium. I expect flight is late May-July with a possible fall flight as well. Hyles lineata WO/Pennington/Bennett/Custer/Fall River, 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. Proserpinus juanita WO/Pennington, the Juanita Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is pale gray-green with a deep green-brown median area and a white dash at the wing tip. rare if present 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 and Virginia Creeper are popular larval hosts. generally more easterly

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