Madison County, Alabama
and Nearby Counties: Lauderdale; Colbert; Franklin;
Limestone; Morgan; Marion and Winston
Sphingidae

Eumorpha typhon, Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama,
July 3, 2009, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.
The northern Alabama presence (probably as a very rare stray) is a big surprise,
and might even represent an imported escapee,
generally only known in US from southern Arizona and New Mexico.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Derek Bridgehouse who has a keen interest in lepidoptera. Derek provides the image and sighting data for Eumorpha typhon, top of page.

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 Madison County.

I do feel that this page also serves as a valid checklist for other counties in northwestern Alabama: Lauderdale; Colbert; Franklin; Limestone; Morgan; Marion and Winston.

As of October 31, 2010, none 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 your 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 (just for Madison County) 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.

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 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, the Catalpa Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings, but there are indistinct black lines and dashes. The cell spot is gray with a black outline. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Ceratomia hageni WO, generally more northerly, Hagen's Sphinx/Osage Orange Sphinx. Larvae: osage orange (Maclura pomifera). Fw upperside gray with green tint & dark, indistinct wavy lines, & pale gray patches at wing tip & along costa. Lw upperside dark grayish brown with paler gray at base & outer margin. Ceratomia undulosa WO, Waved Sphinx Fw upperside pale brownish gray with wavy black & white lines & black-outlined white cell spot. Hw upperside 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. Lapara bombycoides WO, Northern Pine Sphinx Not reported from Madison County which would be just about southern limit of its known range. If you have pines, you might have this species. Lapara coniferarum WO, 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 WO, Pine Sphinx. Fw upperside charcoal gray to brownish gray with white scales along curving postmedial line & prominent black dash (sometimes two) near wing center. Lw upperside uniform charcoal gray to brownish gray with no white scales or markings. If you have pines, you might have this species. Lintneria eremitus WO, Hermit Sphinx Fw upperside gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, & one or two small white spots near costa center. Lw upperside black with two white bands & triangular black patch at base. Note golden hair on thorax. 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 cell spot. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, Five-spotted Hawkmoth I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata. Manduca rustica WO, Rustic Sphinx Look for three large yellow spots on each side of abdomen. Fw upperside yellowish brown to deep chocolate brown with dusting of white scales & zigzagged black & white lines. Manduca sexta WO, Carolina Sphinx If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in larval stage. Larvae get very large & can strip a tomato plant. Neococytius cluentius WO, possible stray from further south, Cluentius Sphinx Fw upper side blurry black with orange markings. Hw upperside black with orange at base & orangish yellow patches between veins, forming band across wing. 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 canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, Canadian Sphinx, uncommon, not often reported anywhere, but might be in Madison County. Larval hosts: white ash (Fraxinus americana); blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, Northern Ash Sphinx/Great Ash Sphinx Not reported in Madison County. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, generally more northerly, Wild Cherry Sphinx. Forewing: dull slate grey with considerable light grey scaling in broad band along costa about 3/4 of distance from body toward apex. Median lines black & thin. Wavy, diffuse dark subterminal line, inwardly bordered by white, & whitish bar in terminal area, paralleling outer margin. Sphinx franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth Fw costal half grey, but posterior portion is distinctive warm yellowish-brown; boundary between these two areas marked with a 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. 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. See file for female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, Modest Sphinx/Poplar Sphinx Large, heavy body, females can be remarkably plump. Hindwings: maroon, blue & grey-brown. Paonias astylus WO, Huckleberry Sphinx Both sexes rest with wings parallel to resting surface, with upper lobes of hindwings protruding above forewings. Lower abdomen of male arcs upward toward head, while abdomen of female hangs strait down on vertical surface. Paonias excaecata WO, Blinded Sphinx Named for dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in hindwing; wide distribution in eastern United States. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops WO, Small-eyed Sphinx Named for small hw eye-spot, 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: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next two species. Hemaris thysbe WO, Hummingbird Clearwing It is not difficult to see why many gardeners would mistake Hemaris thysbe for a small hummingbird as it hovers, sipping nectar from flowers through long feeding tube. Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing/Bumblebee Moth Adults 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. Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, Achemon Sphinx Larvae get large; feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper. Note differences between this moth & Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha fasciatus WO, generally more southerly, Banded Sphinx/Lesser Vine Sphinx Upperside dark pinkish brown. Fw has lighter brown band along costa, sharp pinkish white bands and streaks. Larvae: primrose-willow, Ludwigia (water primrose) & other plants in evening primrose family. Eumorpha intermedia WO, generally more southerly, Intermediate Sphinx (Wing span: 3 9/16 - 3 7/8 inches (9 - 9.8 cm), flies in lower austral and subtropical lowlands in North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, 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. Lw has 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 often visible on abdomen. Darapsa choerilus WO, Azalea Sphinx Lower wings 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. Lower wings 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 margin deeply scalloped. Upperside 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. Proserpinus guarae WO, Proud Sphinx Rare/possibly endangered Proud Sphinx flies from Texas & Louisiana east to northern Florida, north to Alabama, Missouri, northern Georgia, & South Carolina. slight possibility Sphecodina abbottii WO, Abbott's Sphinx Very much under reported across U.S. Rapid day flier so probably not in too many collections. Grape: popular larval host. Xylophanes tersa WO, Tersa Sphinx Fw upperside pale brown with lavender-gray at base & has dark brown lengthwise lines throughout. Lw upperside dark brown witha band of whitish, wedge-shaped marks.

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Please send sightings/images to Bill. I will do my best to respond to requests for identification help.