Sphinginae subfamily
Sphingini tribe:
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Ceratomia amyntor
WO/Waushara; (JW):,
the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx.
Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood
(Tilia), and cherry (Prunus).
There are both pale green and brown forms. The four horns near
the head are diagnostic.
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Ceratomia undulosa
WO/Outagamie/Waushara/Winnebago, the Waved
Sphinx.
Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Quercus, Crataegus and
Chionanthus virginicus are listed as hosts.
In the fifth instar, the spiracular ovals are decidedly red and the
anal horn is off-white to pinkish laterally.
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Dolba hyloeus
WO, Pawpaw Sphinx.
Larvae feed on pawpaw (Asimina triloba), littleleaf sweetfern
(Myrica aspleniifolia), possum haw (Ilex decidua), and
inkberry (Ilex glabra) as well as Tall Gallberry Holly
(Ilex coriacea).
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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.
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Lintneria eremitus
WO,
Hermit Sphinx.
Note triangular bump on the thorax.
Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis),
and sage (Salvia).
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Manduca quinquemaculatus
WO/Winnebago,
Five-spotted Hawkmoth.
Tomato Hornworms: each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen.
Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the
nightshade family (Solanaceae).
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Sphinx canadensis
WO,
Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not
often reported anywhere,
but it might be present in Chippewa County.
Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry
(Vaccinium).
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Sphinx chersis
WO/Calumet/Outagamie/Winnebago, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash
Sphinx:
The larvae are pale bluish green. The head has a pair of yellow
lateral bands meeting at the apex. The oblique, lateral stripes are
pale and bordered anteriorly with a darker green.
Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen.
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Sphinx drupiferarum
WO,
Wild Cherry Sphinx.
Larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple
at night. Larvae have been found on Amelanchier nantuckensis
in Massachusetts and have been reared to pupation in Michigan on
Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines.
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Sphinx gordius
WO,
Apple Sphinx.
Larval hosts are apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica),
Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry
(Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American
larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus).
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Sphinx kalmiae
WO, 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.
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Sphinx luscitiosa
WO,
the Canadian Sphinx or
Clemen's Sphinx
Larval hosts are willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), birch (Betula),
apple (Malus), ash (Fraxinus), waxmyrtle (Morella), and northern bayberry.
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If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the
Poecila Sphinx. They are probably widespread throughout Wisconsin,
but are very much under reported.
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and on coralberry (S. orbiculatus). Note the two golden lines
of slightly raised bumps, one just behind the head, the other on the thorax.
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Smerinthini Tribe:
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Amorpha juglandis
WO,
Walnut Sphinx.
Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans),
hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus),
hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya). |
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Pachysphinx modesta
WO/Outagamie,
Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx.
Larvae feed on poplars and cottonwood.
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Paonias excaecata
WO,
Blinded Sphinx.
Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries.
I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada.
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Paonias myops WO, 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.
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Smerinthus cerisyi
WO,
Cerisy's Sphinx;
Greatly resemble modesta larvae, pale
green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red
spiracular circles, very pale longitudinal lines running from
head to more pronounced anal diagonal line.
Green heads bounded dorsally with pale yellow
inverted "V".
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Smerinthus jamaicensis
WO,
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.
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Macroglossinae subfamily
Dilophonotini Tribe:
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Hemaris diffinis
WO,
Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos),
honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane
(Apocynum), dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
Horn is black with yellow base.
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Hemaris gracilis
WO.
Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing.
Larval foods are blueberries including low bush blueberry
(Vaccinium vacillans), and laurel (Kalmia), all in the heath family
(Ericaceae).
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Hemaris thysbe
WO/Outagamie/Waushara, 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.
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Philampelini Tribe:
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Eumorpha achemon
WO/Winnebago,
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.
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Eumorpha pandorus
JK/Outagamie, 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.
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Macroglossini Tribe:
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Amphion floridensis
WO/Outagamie,
Nessus Sphinix.
In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis),
ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum).
Larvae are green until the final instar.
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Darapsa choerilus
WO, 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.
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Darapsa myron WO, Virginia Creeper Sphinx or Grapevine Sphinx.
If you have the
foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this
species nearby. The lower wings are orange.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),
Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum.
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Deidamia inscriptum
WO,
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.
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Hyles gallii
WO, Bedstraw Hawk Moth
or Gallium Sphinx.
Larvae come in black and in brown forms and often feed on
Epilobium (fireweed).
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Hyles lineata
KR/Waushara/Winnebago, White-lined Sphinx.
Highly varied; feed on great diversity of plants:
willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis),
apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm
(Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon),
purslane (Portulaca), Fuschia.
All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by
dorso-lateral lines.
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Hyles lineata larva, Sheboygan County, Lake Michigan beach area, courtesy of Kate Redmond.
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Sphecodina abbottii
WO,
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.
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