Franklin County, Massachusetts
Sphingidae

Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia amyntor WO, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is light brown and has a dark brown band along the outer margin. Ceratomia catalpae WO, the Catalpa Sphinx This is generally a more southerly species, but it has been recorded in Essex County and might be present in Franklin County. I saw them in great numbers in New Jersey. The larvae feed in large groups and are much more spectacular than the moths. Catalpa is the larval host. Questionable! Ceratomia undulosa WO, 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. The upperside of the hindwing is gray with diffuse darker bands. Some individuals are very dark, almost black, and others are light yellowish brown. Dolba hyloeus WO, the Pawpaw Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with a dusting of white scales. Some moths have patches of reddish or yellowish brown on the wings. Larvae are not limited to pawpaw. Lapara bombycoides USGS, the Northern Pine Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray with heavy black bands. The upperside of the hindwing is brownish gray with no markings. The underside is rather plain Lapara coniferarum USGS, the Southern Pine Sphinx: FW upperside is gray with two (sometimes one or three) black dashes near wing center; other markings are usually diffuse. HW upperside is uniform brown-gray. It lacks the more sharply contrasting black markings of fresh L. bombycoides. There is also an extensive reddish brown patch in median area near fw inner margin. Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx This species is probably present in Berkshire County. The upperside of the forewing is gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near the center of the costa. Manduca jasminearum WO the Ash Sphinx The upperside of forewing is gray to grayish brown with a black line running from the middle of the costa to the middle of the outer margin; the line may be broken near the margin. There is a splash of brown around the cell spot. The upperside of the hindwing is mostly black, with gray at the lower margin. unlikely Manduca quinquemaculatus WO the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This species is not recorded in Berkshire, but, if you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Manduca sexta WO, the Carolina Sphinx This species is not officially recorded in Berkshire, but if you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Paratrea plebeja WO, the Plebian Sphinx This species is recorded in Dukes County, but probably would not be common, as this would be the northernmost part of range. The upperside of the forewing is gray with indistinct black and white markings. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, The absence of the white spot on each forewing and the more brownish coloration serve to separate canadensis from poecilus. The hindwing fringe also tends to be white on poecilus and checkered brownish on canadensis. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is not officially recorded, but I suspect it is present. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. Sphinx gordius WO, the Apple Sphinx This species is probably present in Berkshire County. Colouration and markings are highly variable from one specimen to another. The fringes on forewing are mostly black with some white; those on the hindwing are mostly white with a few black patches. Sphinx kalmiae USGS, the Laurel Sphinx The lower forewings are predominantly brownish-yellow with a fairly wide dark bar along the inner margin. At rest the wings hug the body, giving the moth a long slender look. Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx: FW upperside is yellowish gray in males; pale gray with yellow tint in females. Dark border on outer margin widens as it approaches inner margin. HW upperside is deep yellow in males, pale yellow in females; both with wide black border. Sphinx poecila USGS, the Poecila Sphinx If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. They are pretty common here on Prince Edward Island, but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts, being replaced by Sphinx gordius in Connecticut. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, the Walnut Sphinx: Adults are highly variable; sometimes wings may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have white or pink tinge. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. This is the first Sphinx species I reared as a boy in New Jersey. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta USGS the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Hindwings are often striking in contrast to more sombre upperwings. Paonias astylus WO, the Huckleberry Sphinx It is recorded for northeastern Massachusetts and western Connecticut so may be present in Bershire. It would be more common in southeastern Massachusetts and is a relatively uncommon species. Paonias excaecata USGS, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Berkshire County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops USGS, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Berkshire County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, the Cerisyi's Sphinx At my home in Montague, P.E.I., Canada, they are quite common and are very easy to rear. Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Jamaicensis closely resembles cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. Look for dark half moon, inwardly lined with white at the fw apex. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. 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 gracilis USGS, Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing: Gracilis is distinguished from similar species by pair of red-brown bands on sides of thorax, varying from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white below. Abdomen is red. Wings are transparent with reddish brown borders. Hemaris diffinis USGS, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not officially reported for Berkshire, but it is fairly often reported along the coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha pandorus WO, the 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 where they have not previously been reported. It is confirmed in Worcester Co. to the east. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis WO, the Nessus Sphinix If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Darapsa choerilus WO, the Azalea Sphinx The lower wings of this hawkmoth are a solid brownish-orange, matching the body colour. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. Darapsa myron WO, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx FW upperside is dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint (often quite green). On the costal margin there is a dark rectangular patch, although this may be reduced or absent. HW upperside is pale orange. Darapsa versicolor WO, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. It has not been widely reported, however, and probably is uncommon. Deidamia inscriptum USGS, the Lettered Sphinx The moth's outer margin of the forewing is deeply scalloped. The upperside is light brown with dark brown markings. There is a small black and white spot near the tip. The upperside of the hindwing is orange-brown with a dark brown outer margin and median line. Hyles gallii WO/DS, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx Note thick, irregular, creamy transverse line on forewings and the absence of thin white lines on forewings and thorax. Hyles gallii, May 28, 2006, courtesy of Dave Small. Hyles lineata WO, 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. The hindwing upperside is black with a reddish pink median band. Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx Adults are said to mimic bumblebees and make a buzzing sound when feeding. The wing margins are scalloped. The upperside of the forewing is dark brown with light brown bands and markings. The upperside of the hindwing is yellow with a wide black outer margin.