Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Sphingidae Larvae

Eumorpha pandorus prepupal larva, Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin,
August 22, 2010, courtesy of Janeen Koch.

Thirty Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Wisconsin. Not all of the species are reported (none by USGS as of August 22, 2010) or anticipated (thirty-two by Bill Oehlke) in Manitowoc County.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Janeen Koch, who sent me the prepupal Eumorpha pandorus image, top of this page.

Janeen writes, "I was wondering if you could help me out with the attached pictures. I have tried finding a picture of this on the internet, but nothing I saw looks like this. I live in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and I found this crawling across my workshop floor this morning. It is about 3-1/2" long. Years ago, we found a Cecropia caterpillar and when it hatched in spring it was the most beautiful thing! So I would like to keep this one and see what it becomes, but I don't want to kill it by doing the wrong thing to it. So far I just have it in a bucket with some leaves.

"Could you give me any more information as to what this is, and how I should care for it? I don't know if it's done eating and looking for a place to make a cocoon or what.

"Thanks in advance for any help!"

I reply, "It is Eumorpha pandorus, the pandorus sphinx.

"It is done feeding and is ready to pupate. In the wild, the caterpillar would excavate a subterranean chamber in which to pupate, but if you put it in a sandwich sized gladware or tupperware type plastic tub with no air holes and lid on tight, it will pupate in there in 3-5 days under a folded piece of paper towel you need to insert when you put the caterpillar inside.

"It will give off moisture and shrink a bit, and legs will get quite stumpy. This is all natural before pupation.

"I would like permission to post image, credited to you, to a Manitowoc County pictoral checklist that I will create."

Janeen answers, "Thanks so much for answering and so quickly! I would be honored to have you post the image credited to me. Would it be of any use to you to try to get a better picture? I took it in kind of a hurry with a cheap camera because I was excited to find out what it was. I may have to write back to you if I have any further questions. Is there a way to find out if it is male or female? Will it stay as a pupa all winter? If so, where should I store the container? What are my chances it will make it to moth stage?

"I am fascinated to find out it naturally pupates underground. I can't quite imagine how the moth gets out when ready."

"I see you are from PEI. I have never been there, but several years back we took a camping trip in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. That is quite a long drive from here, but it sure was beautiful.

"Thanks again for taking time to help, and for sharing your wealth of knowledge!"

Picture is okay. I do not know if you can sex them by examining the pupa. I believe it will probably overwinter in pupa stage, but it may emerge in two to three weeks so be prepared for either eventuality. I store my overwintering pupae in sandwich sized ziploc or gladware plastic containers, lids on tight, no air holes. They are like tupperware containers.

I store my cocoons and pupae in the tubs I have mentioned above in the crisper compartment of my refrigerator. My wife has one compartment for lettuce and cucumbers, etc., and I have the other compartment for cocoons and pupae. i would not put the pupae into cold storage until mid to late October.

As long as the caterpillar has not been parasitized, you have an excellent chance of seeing an adult moth emerge.

Under natural conditions, the sweating and wiggling that the larvae does in its subterranean pupation chamber, acts to moisten and compact the soil and almost "cement" it into a moderatly humid overwintering chamber. When the moth is ready to emerge, it will wiggle to the surface by telescoping its abdominal segments inward, sticking the sharp point of its abdomen into the soil to block downward movement while it expands the abdominal segments to push itself out of the chamber and upwards through the tunnel. It repeats these contractions and expansions until it reaches the surface where it will be able to split open the pupal shell, emerge as a moth, and then climb, hang and inflate its wings by pumping fluid into its wing veins.

More info on storage and emergence container via article linked at top of page. Best of luck."

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

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

Sphinginae subfamily Sphingini tribe: Ceratomia amyntor WO, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). There are both pale green and brown forms. The four horns near the head are diagnostic. Ceratomia undulosa WO, the Waved Sphinx Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Quercus, Crataegus and Chionanthus virginicus are listed as hosts. In the fifth instar, the spiracular ovals are decidedly red and the anal horn is off-white to pinkish laterally. Dolba hyloeus WO, the Pawpaw Sphinx Larvae feed on pawpaw (Asimina triloba), littleleaf sweetfern (Myrica aspleniifolia), possum haw (Ilex decidua), and inkberry (Ilex glabra) as well as Tall Gallberry Holly (Ilex coriacea). Lapara bombycoides WO, the Northern Pine Sphinx This caterpillar is also without the anal horn and feeds on pines. The long stripes and reddish brown afford great camouflage. Lintneria eremitus WO, the Hermit Sphinx Note triangular bump on the thorax. Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), and sage (Salvia). Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth The caterpillars are called Tomato Hornworms and each has a black horn at the end of the abdomen. Larvae feed on potato, tobacco, tomato, and other plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Sphinx canadensis WO, Sphinx canadensis, the Canadian Sphinx, is not common, and is not often reported anywhere, but it might be present in Chippewa County. Larval hosts are white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx chersis WO, the Northern Ash Sphinx or Great Ash Sphinx: The larvae are pale bluish green. The head has a pair of yellow lateral bands meeting at the apex. The oblique, lateral stripes are pale and bordered anteriorly with a darker green. Larval hosts are ash, lilac, privet, cherry, and quaking aspen. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx Larvae hide in the day and feed primarily on cherry, plum, and apple at night. Larvae have been found on Amelanchier nantuckensis in Massachusetts and have been reared to pupation in Michigan on Prunus serotina. Note purple oblique lines. Sphinx gordius WO, the Apple Sphinx Larval hosts are apple (Malus), sweetfern (Myrica), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), blueberry and huckleberry (Vaccinium), white spruce (Picea glauca), American larch (Larix laricina), and alder (Alnus). Sphinx kalmiae WO, the Laurel Sphinx In the final instar, the black on the head, lateral lines, horn and on abdominal legs is diagnostic. Larvae feed primarily on lilac and fringe. Sphinx luscitiosa WO, the Canadian Sphinx or Clemen's Sphinx Larval hosts are willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), birch (Betula), apple (Malus), ash (Fraxinus), waxmyrtle (Morella), and northern bayberry. 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 Larvae feed on the common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and on coralberry (S. orbiculatus). Note the two golden lines of slightly raised bumps, one just behind the head, the other on the thorax. Smerinthini Tribe: Amorpha juglandis WO, the Walnut Sphinx Amorpha juglandis larvae feed upon Walnut and butternut (Juglans), hickory (Carya), alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus), hazelnut (Corylus), and hop-hornbeam (Ostrya). Pachysphinx modesta WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx Larvae feed on poplars and cottonwood. Paonias excaecata WO, the Blinded Sphinx Larvae accept willows, birches, and cherries. I have also found them in the wild on oak in eastern Canada. Paonias myops WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx Wild cherry species are the favorites as larval foodplants, but eggs will also be deposited on birches and other forest trees. There are varying degrees in the amount of red markings along the sides. Smerinthus cerisyi WO, Cerisy's Sphinx; Cerisyi larvae greatly resemble modesta larvae, both being pale green, with granular skin, pale lateral diagonal lines, faint red spiracular circles, and very pale longitudinal lines running from the head to a more pronounced anal diagonal line. Larvae have green heads bounded dorsally with a pale yellow inverted "V". Smerinthus jamaicensis WO, the Twin-spotted Sphinx Larvae feed upon many forest trees including birches and cherries, but are expecially fond of poplars and willows. Red markings on sides vary greatly from specimen to specimen. Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth Larval host plants include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), Coralberry, viburnums, Blue Dogbane (Apocynum) and dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Horn is black with a yellow base. Hemaris gracilis WO, the Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing Larval foods are blueberries including low bush blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans), and laurel (Kalmia), all in the heath family (Ericaceae). Hemaris thysbe WO, the Hummingbird Clearwing There is also an orangey-pink prepupal form. The lateral line runs from S1 to the blue horn. Hemaris thysbe larvae feed on viburnum and related plants. Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx Larvae feed upon Grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and other vines and ivies (Ampelopsis). Larvae occur in both a light (green) form and a darker (tan/brown) form. Note six "segmented" oblique lines. Eumorpha pandorus JK, the Pandorus Sphinx If you have Grape or Virginia Creeper nearby, then you might encounter this species. Note the five large white ovals. There are orangey-brown and green forms also. Eumorpha pandorus prepupal larva, Manitowoc, August 22, 2010, courtesy of Janeen Koch. Macroglossini Tribe: Amphion floridensis WO, the Nessus Sphinix In additon to Virginia creeper larvae accept Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and cayenne pepper (Capsicum). Larvae are green until the final instar. Darapsa choerilus WO, the Azalea Sphinx Larvae feed on Azalea and Viburnum and progress very rapidly. The larva to the left on Viburnum cassinoides is getting ready to pupate. Color change from green to light burgundy-brown indicates pupation is imminent. Darapsa myron WO, 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. Larvae feed on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Grape (Vitis), Ampelopsis, and Viburnum. Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx Grape (Vitis), ampelopsis (Ampelopsis), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus) all serve as larval hosts. The alternating yellow and greyish-green rings across the back distinguish this larva. Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx Larvae come in black and in brown forms and often feed on Epilobium (fireweed). Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx Larvae are highly varied and feed on a great diversity of plants including willow weed (Epilobium), four o'clock (Mirabilis), apple (Malus), evening primrose (Oenothera), elm (Ulmus), grape (Vitis), tomato (Lycopersicon), purslane (Portulaca), and Fuschia. All larvae seem, however, to have the red/black swellings split by dorso-lateral lines. Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx Larvae feed at night on grape (Vitis) and ampelopsis (Ampelopsis) and hide on the bark of their host plants during the day. Virginia creeper would also be a suitable host. There is also a dark form without the green patches. Note the "raised eye", replacing the anal horn.

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