Mobile County, Alabama, and Nearby Counties
Washingotn; Clarke; Choctaw; Marengo; Greene; Sumter; Hale
Sphingidae

Manduca rustica, Mobile, Alabama, August 25, 2005, courtesy of Vickie McWhirter.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Vickie McWhirter who sent me the images of Manduca rustica and Manduca sexta at the top and bottom of this page.

Vickie writes, "I was very glad to find your site. I am in Mobile, Alabama, and have seen the moth and wasn't sure what it was. I have asked many people and no one seems to know either. I have night blooming flowers that they just love. I finally got two close up photos of them (Manduca rustica and Manduca sexta). Just wanted to thank you again for your site."

Twenty-seven Sphingidae species are listed for Alabama on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Mobile County (Only Lapara coniferarum is 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 Mobile 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.

Although this page was originally created for Mobile County, I think it also serves as a vald checklist for other southwestern counties: Washingotn; Clarke; Choctaw; Marengo; Greene; Sumter; Hale.

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.

The night-blooming moon flower will attract many Sphingidae at dusk and into the night.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, WO Pink-spotted hawkmoth, stray Strong migrant; adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) petunia (Petunia species). Ceratomia amyntor WO, Elm Sphinx/Four-horned Sphinx Fw upperside brown with dark brown & white markings including white costal area near wing base, dark streaks along veins, & white spot in cell. Larvae: Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae WO, Catalpa Sphinx Fw upperside yellowish brown with no white markings, indistinct black lines & dashes. Gray cell spot with black outline. Larvae feed in large groups, much more spectacular than moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia undulosa WO, 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. Dolba hyloeus WO, Pawpaw Sphinx Fw upperside dark brown with dusting of white scales. Some moths have patches of reddish or yellowish brown on wings. Isoparce cupressi WO, Cypress/Baldcypress Sphinx Isoparce cupressi, rare Cypress Sphinx, flies in Cypress swamps in Georgia (specimen type locality), Maryland to Texas. It has been reported in Mexico. Lapara phaeobrachycerous WO, Pine Sphinx If you have pines, you might have this species. slight possibility Lapara coniferarum USGS, Southern Pine Sphinx Fw upperside gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near wing center; other markings usually diffuse. Lw upperside uniform brown-gray. If you've got pines, this species is likely present. Lapara phaeobrachycerous Manduca jasminearum WO, Ash Sphinx Fw upperside gray to grayish brown with black line running from middle of costa to middle of outer margin; line may be broken near margin. Splash of brown around the cell spot. Manduca quinquemaculata WO, Five-spotted Hawkmoth I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata. Manduca rustica VM, Rustic Sphinx Look for three large yellow spots on each side of abdomen. Fw upperside yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with a dusting of white scales & zigzagged black & white lines. Manduca sexta VM, Carolina Sphinx If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in larval stage. Larvae very large, can strip tomato plant. Neococytius cluentiusstray Paratrea plebeja WO, Plebeian Sphinx Fw upperside gray with indistinct black & white markings. Series of black dashes from base to tip, & small white cell spot. Sphinx franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth Fw costal half grey, posterior portion is distinctive warm yellowish-brown; boundary between areas marked with series of dark diagonal streaks. Similar to S. kalmiae, but lacks dark bar along fw inner margin. Sphinx kalmiae WO, Laurel Sphinx Lower forewings predominantly brownish-yellow with fairly wide dark bar along inner margin. At rest wings hug body, giving moth long slender look. unlikely Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, Walnut Sphinx Highly variable; sometimes wings of an individual may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, may have white or pink tinge. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. Female different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, Modest Sphinx/Poplar Sphinx Distinct. They are common on Prince Edward Island. Paonias astylus WO, Huckleberry Sphinx Paonias astylus flies from March-September in Florida & from April-September in Louisiana. One brood northward from June-August. An uncommon species. Paonias excaecata WO, Blinded Sphinx Named for dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in hindwing, wide distribution in eastern US. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx Named for small eye-spot in hindwing, wide distribution, probably common. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, Twin-spotted Sphinx Widely distributed and fairly common. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: Aellopos titan WO, Titan Sphinx. possible stray Body dark brown with wide white stripe across abdomen. Wings dark brown. Lw upperside has pale patches along costa & inner margin. Enyo lugubris, Mournful Sphinx, WO Body & wings dark brown. Fw has large black patch covering most of wing outer half. Pale tan cell spot (dark inner pupil), fairly straight median line to inside of cell spot. Erinnyis obscura, Obscure Sphinx, WO At night adults nectar at flowers, including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis) & Asystasia gangetica beginning at dusk. July & August flight times in southern states. remote possibility See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next two species. Hemaris thysbe WO, Hummingbird Clearwing Not difficult to see why many gardeners would mistake Hemaris thysbe moth for small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through long feeding tube. Hemaris diffinis WO, Snowberry Clearwing/Bumblebee Moth Mimic bumblebees, quite variable. Wings basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases & edges. Thorax golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. Abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments before tip. Pseudosphinx tetrio, Tetrio Sphinx, WO Fw upperside dark brown with dark spot at base of costa, blurry gray &d white markings. Lw upperside dark brown with white along inner margin, & lower half of outer margin. (remote possibility) Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, Achemon Sphinx Larvae: large, feed on grape vines & Virginia creeper. Note differences between this moth and Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha fasciatus WO, Banded Sphinx Fw upperside dark pinkish brown with lighter brown band along costa, sharp pinkish white bands & streaks. Larvae: primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) other plants in evening primrose family. Eumorpha intermedia WO, Intermediate Sphinx Flies in lower austral and subtropical lowlands in North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Texas. posibility Eumorpha pandorus WO, 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. Eumorpha typhon WO, Typhon Sphinx. Fw upperside deep red-brown with pale brown bands. Each hindwing pink along costal margin & triangular white spot on outer part of inner margin. possible rare stray, based on Derek Bridgehouse report from Madison County. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis WO, Nessus Sphinix Day flier, widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on abdomen. Darapsa choerilus WO, Azalea Sphinx Lower wings are solid brownish-orange, matching body colour. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Darapsa myron WO, Virginia Creeper Sphinx/Grapevine Sphinx If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. The lower wings are orange. Darapsa versicolor WO, Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the Hydrangea Sphinx. Deidamia inscriptum WO, Lettered Sphinx Fw outer margin deeply scalloped. Light brown with dark brown markings. Small black & white spot near tip. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus); larval hosts. Hyles lineata WO, White-lined Sphinx Strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. Sphecodina abbottii WO, Abbott's Sphinx Very much under reported across US. Rapid day flier, probably not in too many collections. Grape: larval host. Xylophanes tersa WO, Tersa Sphinx Common in the south. It is a strong migrant, however, and may establish itself in your county periodically.

Manduca sexta, Mobile, Alabama, August 28, 2005, courtesy of Vickie McWhirter.

Vickie took this image just before the "storm", Hurricane Katrina, hit the Gulf Coast. She was without power for six days and sent the image when power was restored.

Vickie writes, " I would like to thank you very much for putting my photo on the site. I have shared it with many people who, like me, didn't know about the moth.

"The storm took all of my moon flowers, but I did get one more good photo the nite before the storm. I would like to share with you. It will probably be the last I will get till next year."

My prayers have been with the people of the Gulf Coast and with all those who are trying to help. Vickie's last line brought tears to my eyes. I look forward to next year! Best of luck to all of you who have been hard hit by Katrina.

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