Taylor County, Wisconsin
Sphingidae

Ceratomia undulosa, Medford, Wisconsin, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert

Thirty Sphingidae species are listed in the USGS for Wisconsin. Not all of the species are reported (none by USGS) or anticipated (twenty-seven by Bill Oehlke) in Taylor County.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Joan F. Rickert who lives near Medford in Taylor County, Wisconsin. Joan sent me sighting data for Sphinx chersis and also sent the larval images of Ceratomia undulosa, top and bottom of this page, as well as other sightings indicated by JFR.

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 Taylor 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.

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. Larvae feed on Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), and cherry (Prunus). Ceratomia undulosa JFR/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. Ceratomia undulosa, July 21, 2006, Joan F. Rickert Ceratomia undulosa, Medford, June 4, 2011, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert Ceratomia undulosa, Medford, June 30, 2011, Joan F. Rickert 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. unlikely, northern limit in WI. Lapara bombycoides WO, 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. Lintneria eremitus JR, the Hermit Sphinx: Fw upperside is gray-brown with wavy lines, black dashes, and one or two small white spots near center of costa. Hw upperside is black with two white bands and a triangular black patch at base. Note golden hair on thorax. Larval hosts are various species of beebalm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), bugleweed (Lycopis), and sage (Salvia). Sphinx eremitus larva find (immature, feeding on Monarda), August 8, 2006, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert. Manduca quinquemaculatus WO, the Five-spotted Hawkmoth This large bodied moth flies in tobacco fields and vegetable gardens (potatoes, tomatoes) and wherever host plants are found. Sphinx canadensis WO/JFR, Canadian Sphinx is not common, and is often unreported. Absence of white spot on forewing and more brownish coloration serve to separate canadensis from S. poecilus. Hw fringe also tends to be white on poecilus and checkered brownish on canadensis. Larval hosts: white ash (Fraxinus americana) and blueberry (Vaccinium). Sphinx canadensis, Medford, June 4, 2011, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert Sphinx chersis JFR/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 chersis, Medford, July 23, 2011, Joan F. Rickert. Sphinx drupiferarum WO, the Wild Cherry Sphinx The costal area in the basal and median areas of the forewing is light grey. This colour also appears in the terminal area. The rest of the wing is dark slatey grey. Sphinx gordius WO, Apple Sphinx: Colouration and markings are highly variable from one specimen to another. Fw fringes are mostly black with some white; those on hindwing are mostly white with a few black patches. Fw upperside ranges from brown with black borders through brownish gray with paler borders to pale gray with no borders. Dashes, submarginal line, and cell spot are usually weak. Sphinx kalmiae WO/JFR, 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, July 28, 2006, Joan F. Rickert 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. The upperside of the hindwing is deep yellow in males, pale yellow in females; both with a wide black border. 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 This moth is not reporterd in Taylor County but may be present. This is the first Sphinx species I reared as a boy in New Jersey. See the file for the female; she is different. Paonias excaecata WO/JFR, 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 excaecata, adult, June 19, 2008; larva, Medford, August 2, 2008, Joan F. Rickert. Paonias myops JFR/WO, the Small-eyed Sphinx This small species is confirmed in Taylor County by Joan F. Rickert. This species ranges across North America. The hindwings have a small blue eyespot ringed with black on a yellow background. Paonias myops, Medford, June 20, 2008, Joan F. Rickert Pachysphinx modesta JFR/WO, the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx, This large poplar/willow feeder is now reported in Taylor County, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert They are a heavy bodied species. Pachysphinx modesta, May 31, 2006; May 26, 2007, Joan F. Rickert Smerinthus cerisyi WO/JFR, 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 cerisyi, May 31, 2006, Joan F. Rickert Smerinthus jamaicensis WO/JFR, the Twin-spotted Sphinx This moth is widely distributed and fairly common, although it is not officially recorded in Taylor County. Along the East Coast, it flies from P.E.I. to Florida. Smerinthus jamaicensis, July 15, 2006, Joan F. Rickert Macroglossinae subfamily Dilophonotini Tribe: See Hemaris comparison to help distinguish the next three species. Hemaris diffinis WO/ JFR, 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, June 17, 2006, Joan F. Rickert Hemaris gracilis WO, The Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing These moths are diurnal and are most often seen nectaring during the day at flowers. Note the smooth inner edge of the burgundy forewing outer margin and the reddish upper surface of the legs. Hemaris thysbe WO/JFR, the Hummingbird Clearwing This interesting day flier is now confirmed for Taylor, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert. They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida. Hemaris thysbe, June 1, 2006, June 13, 2008, Joan F. Rickert Philampelini Tribe: Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx This moth is not reported for Taylor, but it may be present. Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx. unlikely, further south in Wisconsin 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. unlikely, further south in Wisconsin Macroglossini Tribe: Amphion floridensis JFR/WO, 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. Ampohion floridensis, Medford, May 31, 2008, May 27, 2012, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert. Darapsa choerilus WO, 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. 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 more green than described. On the costal margin there is a dark rectangular patch, although this may be reduced or absent. Hw upperside is pale orange. Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx This species has not been recorded in Taylor. It is seen in southern Ontario, however, and in central and southern Wisconsin. unlikely, further south in Wisconsin Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx This species is not reported in Taylor, 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 JFR/WO, 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. Hyles lineata adult: May 31, 2007; June 1, 2012; larva July 10, 2009 and July 14, 2010; Medford, Joan F. Rickert 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.

Ceratomia undulosa, Medford, Wisconsin, courtesy of Joan F. Rickert

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