La Crosse County, Wisconsin
Sphingidae

Thirty Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Wisconsin. Not all of the species are reported (one, White-lined sphinx (Hyles lineata) by USGS as of July 2008) or anticipated (thirty-three by Bill Oehlke) in La Crosse County.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Mary Ann Roesler who sent the Hemaris thysbe image, top of this page.

Mary Ann writes, " This is not a great photo but there were several of these moths flying around early afternoon in Smith Valley which is near La Crosse, WI."

Mary Ann also sends the image of Manduca quinquemaculatus at the bottom of the page.

She writes, "Here are photos of another moth I took on 9-03-2007 in our mall area near Office Depot on a cement light post. I didn’t have a clue what it was, but now, in seeing the others, know it also is a moth. Why are these large moths on concrete?"

I replied, "At night the moths are attracted to lights and get mesmerized by them. I suspect there are security lights at the mall that are drawing the moths, and the concrete (cement light post) is right below the light so that is where they end up. It might also be more difficult for birds to see and attack them on a vertical post. If you visited the same area around 1:00 am, there probably would be many more moths all around. Some fly off at day break; others get eaten by birds."

Special thanks also goes to Dan Jackson who sends a beautiful image of Darapsa myron from Onalaska.

Darapsa myron, Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin,
July 3, 2008, courtesy of Dan Jackson.

Dan has also sent images of Hemaris diffinis, May 22, 2012, and Amphion floridensis, May 22, 2012.

Hemaris diffinis, Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin,
May 22, 2012, courtesy of Dan Jackson.

It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you have encountered.

A WO" after the species name indicates that I have no confirmed reports of this species in La Crosse County, but I (William Oehlke) expect that this moth is present.

Please help me develop this list with improved, documented accuracy by sending sightings (species, date, location), preferably with an image, via email to Bill Oehlke.

As of May 23, 2012, two species are reported in LaCrosse County by BAMONA. Please also forward sightings to BAMONA, an excellent online resource.

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. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and 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. slight possibility 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. 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. Larve are not limited to pawpaw. Lapara bombycoides WO, the Northern Pine Sphinx This species is not officially reported from La Crosse. If you have pines, you probably have this species. It also flies on P.E.I. 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/MAR, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. Manduca quinquemaculatus, Onalaska, September 3, 2007, Mary Ann Roesler. Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might be present in Trempealeau County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx The upperside of the forewing is soft dark gray to blue-gray with a series of black dashes, one of which reaches the wing tip. 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/DJ, 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, Onalaska, August 15, 2011, Dan Jackson Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx: The upperside of the forewing is yellowish gray in males and pale gray with a faint yellow tint in females. In both sexes, the dark border on the outer margin widens as it approaches the inner margin. Sphinx poecila WO, the Poecila Sphinx If you have blueberries in the woods, then you probably have the Poecila Sphinx. They are probably widespread throughout Wisconsin, but are very much under reported. Sphinx vashti WO, the Snowberry Sphinx The upperside of the forewing has a narrow black subterminal line bordered by a white inverted V-shaped line on the outside, and a black line running inwards from the apex of the wing. It is most often found in montane woodlands and along streamcourses. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, 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. See the file for the female; she is different. Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This large poplar/willow feeder is not reported in Trempealeau County, but it is probably present. They are a heavy bodied species. Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx, The outer margin of the forewing is quite wavy. There is a dark cell spot and a dark oblique line mid wing from the costa almost to the inner margin. Basic ground colour is pinkish brown. Flight would be June-July. Paonias myops WO/BAMONA, the Small-eyed Sphinx This small species is confirmed in Trempealeau County by Ian Miller. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, the Cerisyi's Sphinx or One-eyed Sphinx, Larvae feed on poplars and willows. Flight would be from late May-July as a single brood. Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Smerinthus jamaicensis closely resembles Smerinthus cerisyi, but jamaicensis is much smaller with larger blue patches on more vibrant and deeper purple in the lower wings. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris diffinis WO/DJ, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth, The moth flies along forest edges and in meadows, gardens and brushy fields. Day-flying adults nectar at lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, Canada violet, etc. Hemaris diffinis, Onalaska, May 22, 2012; August 15, 2011, Dan Jackson Hemaris gracilis WO, The Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing. Hemaris thysbe MAR, 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, Smith Valley, August 7, 2008, Mary Ann Roesler. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not reported for Trempealeau, but it may be present. 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 might have this species. I often get asked to identify larvae from areas where they have not previously been reported. Macroglossini Tribe: Amphion floridensis WO/DJ, 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, Onalaska, May 2, 22, 2012, Dan Jackson 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 The forewing upperside is dark brown to pale yellowish gray, with an olive tint. On the costal margin there is a dark rectangular patch, although this may be reduced or absent. The upperside of the hindwing is pale orange. Darapsa myron, Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin, July 3, 2008, Dan Jackson. Deidamia inscriptum WO, 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, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is not reported in La Crosse, but it has been recorded in eastern Wisconsin counties. I suspect it is present. Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not. Hyles lineata BAMONA, the White-lined Sphinx Adults usually fly at dusk, during the night, and at dawn, but they also fly during the day over a wide variety of open habitats including deserts, suburbs, and gardens. Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx This moth is very much under reported on USGS. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections. Grape is a popular larval host.

Manduca quinquemaculatus, Onalaska, September 3, 2007, Mary Ann Roesler.

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