Van Wert County, Ohio
Sphingidae

Sphingidae trio, Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio, courtesy of Greg Roehm.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information/sightings are welcomed by Bill.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Greg Roehm of Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio. Greg has sent many Sphingidae and Catocala images with data from Willshire, Ohio.

Depicted at top of page from top to bottom are Paonias myops, Paonias excaecata, Sphecodina abbottii.

Visit Ohio Catocala (underwing moths).

Thirty-three Sphingidae species are listed for Ohio on the BAMONA website. Nine additional species are reported by Rick Ruggles and/or Eric Metzler.

Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in van Wert County (None are reported on BAMONA as of August 31, 2012). 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 (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.

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.

Please also send your sightings to BAMONA, an excellent on-line resource.

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Agrius cingulata, WO Pink-spotted hawkmoth, possible but unlikely stray This species is a strong migrant and adults nectar from deep-throated flowers including moonflower (Calonyction aculeatum), morning glory (Convolvulus), honey suckle (Lonicera) and petunia (Petunia species). Ceratomia amyntor WO/GR, 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. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia amyntor, Willshire, July 14, 2011, Greg Roehm Ceratomia catalpae WO/GR, 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 catalpae, Willshire, August 12, 2010, Greg Roehm Ceratomia undulosa WO/GR, 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. Ceratomia undulosa, Willshire, July 14, 2011, Greg Roehm 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. Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx 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. The upperside of the hindwing is black with two white bands and a triangular black patch at the base. Note the golden hair on the thorax. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth I suspect if you grow tomatoes, you are likely to encounter Manduca quinquemaculata. Manduca sexta WO/GR, the Carolina Sphinx If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered Manduca sexta in the larval stage. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant. Manduca sexta, Willshire, August 10, 2010, Greg Roehm Paratrea plebeja WO, 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 Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx 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 Note the pm line, absent in Sphinx poecila which flies more to the north. Sphinx kalmiae WO/ GR, 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 kalmiae, Willshire, August 1, 2012, Greg Roehm Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO/ GR, the Walnut Sphinx The adults are also highly variable; sometimes wings of an individual may be all one color or may have several colors, ranging from pale to dark brown, and may have a white or pink tinge. Patterns range from faint to pronounced. See the file for the female; she is different. Amorpha juglandis, Willshire, June 12, 2012, Greg Roehm Pachysphinx modesta WO/ GR, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Pachysphinx modesta, Willshire, July 27, 2010, Greg Roehm Paonias excaecata GR, the Blinded Sphinx Named for the dull grey-blue spot (minus dark pupil) in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution in the eastern United States. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias excaecata, Willshire, June 12, 2012, Greg Roehm Paonias myops GR, the Small-eyed Sphinx Named for the small eye-spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in Licking County. I regularly see them on Prince Edward Island, and they are reported as far south as Florida. Paonias myops, Willshire, July 16, 2012, Greg Roehm Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, 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 two species. Hemaris thysbe / WO/GR, 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 thysbe, Willshire, July 11, 2008, Greg Roehm Hemaris diffinis WO/GR, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Adults mimic bumblebees and are quite variable. The wings are basically clear, with dark brown to brownish-orange veins, bases and edges. The thorax is golden-brown to dark greenish-brown. The abdomen tends to be dark (black) with 1-2 yellow segments before the tip. Hemaris diffinis, Willshire, August 3, 2007, Greg Roehm Philampelini tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO/GR, the Achemon Sphinx Larvae get large and feed on grape vines and Virginia creeper. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. Eumorpha achemon, Willshire, July 16, 2011, Greg Roehm Eumorpha fasciata WO, the Banded Sphinx This moth is not officially reported for Franklin, however, the moth is a strong flier and occasionally moths and larvae turn up as very rare strays in northern communities. possible, but unlikely stray Eumorpha pandorus WO/GR, 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. Eumorpha pandorus, Willshire, July 15, 2012, Greg Roehm Macroglossini tribe: Amphion floridensis WO/GR, the Nessus Sphinix This day flier is widely distributed. If you have Virginia Creeper, you probably have the Nessus Sphinx. Two bright, distinct, narrow yellow bands are often visible on the abdomen. Amphion floridensis, Willshire, July 7, 2012, Greg Roehm Darapsa choerilus WO/GR, 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 choerilus, Willshire, July 5, 2012, Greg Roehm Darapsa myron WO/GR, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby. The lower wings are orange. Darapsa myron, Willshire, July 7, 2012, Greg Roehm Darapsa versicolor WO/GR, the Hydrangea Sphinx: If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you might have the Hydrangea Sphinx. FW upperside is often greenish brown with curved dark lines and pinkish-white patches. HW upperside is pale yellow to reddish brown with white along costal margin, greenish brown along outer margin, and white shaded with greenish brown on inner margin. Darapsa versicolor, Willshire, July 21, 2011, Greg Roehm Deidamia inscriptum WO/GR, 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. Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. Deidamia inscriptum, Willshire, May 12, 2012, courtesy of Greg Roehm. Hyles lineata WO/GR,, the White-lined Sphinx This species has strong migrating tendancies from much further south. There are records from New Hampshire and Maine. Hyles lineata, Willshire, August 12, 2010, Greg Roehm Sphecodina abbottii GR, 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. Sphecodina abbottii, Willshire, June 12, 2012, Greg Roehm Xylophanes tersa WO, the Tersa Sphinx This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, however. It may stray to Franklin County. possible, but unlikely stray

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