Cape May County, New Jersey
Sphingidae

Manduca quinquemaculatus, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

I spent my early years in northern New Jersey and now reside in Montague, Prince Edward Island. I still have a frame of Sphingidae specimens from Hunterdon County, New Jersey, done up over forty years ago. It contains Lintneria eremitus, Sphinx gordius, Paonias myops, Smerinthus jamaicensis, Darapsa choerilus, Darapsa myron, Sphecodina abbottii, Hyles lineata and a stray Xylophanes tersa.

I can also remember seeing Manduca sexta, Manduca quinquemaculatus, Manduca jasminearum, Ceratomia catalpae, Ceratomia amyntor, Ceratomia undulosa, Paonias excaecata, Amorpha juglandis, Eumorpha pandorus, Hemaris thysbe (day flier) and Hyles lineata at lights or along the train tracks (Union County, N.J.) at night nectaring at phlox. The Hemaris species could often be encountered during the day around the butterfly bushes or near the honey suckle vines.

Some of these species I now see at lights on P.E.I.; I have reared most of the local ones.

With so many species from Cape May County common to one or the other or both of my homes, the memories are flooding back!

Amphion floridensis, Stone Harbor, Cape May County, New Jersey,
May 19, 2011, courtesy of Walt N Tina Davis.

Forty-four Sphingidae species are listed for New Jersey on the U.S.G.S. website (now Bamona). Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in Cape May County (thirty-two are reported on BAMONA as of October 4, 2011). 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 Cape May County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present or might be present.

A "BAMONA" indicates the moth is reported on the BAMONA 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.

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.

Thanks again to Walt and Tina Davis for the following image of Agrius cingulata, the Pink-spotted Hawkmoth. I do not believe that there are breeding populations in New Jersey. It is more likely a wind assisted stray from further south.

Agrius cingulata, Stone Harbor, Cape May County, New Jersey,
October 4, 2011, courtesy of Walt N Tina Davis

Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, BAMONA/WNTD, Pink-spotted Hawkmoth, fall stray This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to Cape May as a rare stray. There are not too many records from New York state, but records exist for NJ and CT. Agrius cingulata, Stone Harbor, October 4, 2011, Walt N Tina Davis Cocytius antaeus, BAMONA, The Giant Sphinx, stray This moth is a very strong flier, but would only make its way to Cape May as a rare stray. There are not too many records from northen states. Ceratomia amyntor, BAMONA, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx This moth is officially recorded in Cape May. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia catalpae BAMONA, the Catalpa Sphinx This species is recorded for Cape May. 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. Ceratomia undulosa BAMONA, the Waved Sphinx This moth is recorded in Cape May. I have seen them as far north as P.E.I. in eastern Canada, and took them in New Jersey. It is named for the wavy lines on the forewings. Dolba hyloeus, BAMONA the Pawpaw Sphinx This moth is recorded in Cape May. It is widely reported in New Jersey and Connecticut. Lapara bombycoides BAMONA, the Northern Pine Sphinx This moth is reported from Cape May. If you have pines, you probably have this species. It flies on P.E.I. Lapara coniferarum BAMONA, the Southern Pine Sphinx this moth is reported from Cape May, and it is widely reported in New Jersey and along the coast in Connecticut and Masachusetts. If you've got pines, this species is likely present. Lintneria eremitus, WO, the Hermit Sphinx This species is not reported in Cape May. Generally it is not widely reported, but I suspect it is in Cape May County. Manduca jasminearum WO, the Ash Sphinx This species is not officially recorded in Cape May. It is reported in New Jersey, southeastern New York and Connecticut. It might be present in Cape May County. Manduca quinquemaculatus, WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This species is recorded in Cape May, and has been seen in nearby counties. I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter it. Manduca rustica WO, the Rustic Sphinx This species is not recorded in Cape May, but it has been taken in counties in northeastern and central eastern New Jersey. I would not be surprised to get a report. Look for three large yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. possible stray from further south Manduca sexta BAMONA, the Carolina Sphinx This species is recorded in Cape May. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Paratrea plebeja, BAMONA, the Plebeian Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is gray with indistinct black and white markings. There is a series of black dashes from the base to the tip, and a small white cell spot. Sphinx chersis, WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx This species is not reported in Cape May. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. unlikely Sphinx drupiferarum BAMONA, the Wild Cherry Sphinx This species is officially reported in Cape May. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae. Sphinx franckii WO, Franck's Sphinx Moth This species is not reported in Cape May, and generally it is not widely reported anywhere. Similar to S. kalmiae but lacks the dark bar along the fw inner margin. remote possibility Sphinx gordius BAMONA, the Apple Sphinx This species is reported in Cape May. Generally it is widely reported in neighbouring counties. Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies more to the north. Sphinx kalmiae BAMONA, the Laurel Sphinx This species is reported in Cape May. I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on lilac. At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis BAMONA, the Walnut Sphinx This moth is fairly widely reported to the north and west of as well as in Cape May. 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 BAMONA, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth is recorded in Cape May County. It is fond of poplars and willows. They are common on Prince Edward Island. Paonias astylus BAMONA, the Huckleberry Sphinx This appears to be an uncommon species. They are officially recorded for Cape May, and they are reported for northeastern New Jersey and Connecticut. Paonias excaecata, BAMONA, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Cape May County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops, BAMONA, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Cape May County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis BAMONA, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is 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 three species. Hemaris thysbe, BAMONA, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is reported in Cape May, and is widely reported to the north and west. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Hemaris diffinis, BAMONA, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth This moth is widespread and has been recorded in Cape May and in northwestern N.J. and southeastern N.Y. and Connecticut. Hemaris gracilis, WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing This day-flying moth is less common and has not been recorded in Cape May, but has been seen in northeastern N.J. and southeastern N.Y. unlikely Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon BAMONA, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is reported for Cape May, and 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 BAMONA, 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 not previously reported. Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis BAMONA/WNTD, the Nessus Sphinix This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. It is reported from Richmond. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Amphion floridensis Stone Harbor, May 19, 2011, Walt N Tina Davis. Cautethia grotei BAMONA, the Grote's Sphinx This species is rarely recorded in the U.S., but there are sightings in the east from Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. There are reports from Cape May. Darapsa choerilus BAMONA, the Azalea Sphinx They are common in New Jersey and common here on Prince Edward Island. You will often see this species listed as Darapsa pholus, especially in older literature. It is confirmed for Cape May. Darapsa myron, BAMONA, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for Cape May County It is widely reported as far north as southern Maine. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. Darapsa versicolor BAMONA, the Hydrangea Sphinx If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrangea Sphinx. It has been reported in Cape May and in southeastern New York and northeastern New Jersey as well. Deidamia inscriptum BAMONA, the Lettered Sphinx This species has been recorded in Cape May and nearby areas. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. Hyles lineata, BAMONA, the White-lined Sphinx This species is reported from Cape May County. It has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. 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 is a popular larval host. It is likely in Cape May County. Xylophanes tersa, BAMONA, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however, and may establish itself in Cape May periodically.

Enjoy some of nature's wonderments, giant silk moth cocoons. These cocoons are for sale winter and fall. Beautiful Saturniidae moths will emerge the following spring and summer. Read Actias luna rearing article. Additional online help available.

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