SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Home This website gives you a detailed overview of the species of Sphingidae found in the United States Sphingidae, also known as Hawk Moths and Sphinx Moths are found on every continent (except Antarctica) and are well known for being pollinators
Sphingidae Index - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA These plates contain most of the species found in the USA If you see your moth below, and want to learn more, navigate to it by using the buttons at the top or bottom of this page You can also use the Sphingidae Index under menu to immediately navigate to your species
Macroglossinae - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Macroglossinae is the largest subfamily in the family Sphingidae with about 86 genera worldwide containing about 766 species In the US, it contains 24 genera and about 69 species The type specimen is Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cocytius antaeus - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Adult description: As its common name implies, this is a very large moth with forewings varying from 65-92mm (2) The forewing appearance is similar to Manduca sexta, the difference being the size The brown forewings are mottled with black, usually with a white discal spot and occasionally other whitish markings
Hyles lineata - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Adult description: This is a medium sized moth with forewings 29-47mm in length (1) It is the most distinctive of the Hyles species in the US The forewing is brown with distinctive white veining
General Information - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The gallery below contains images that are the general anatomy of Sphingidae adults and larvae There is also a Sphingidae wing anatomy page for some of the technical wing terms used throughout the site These diagrams may help you as you examine keys and species descriptions found across this site BACK TO TOP
Eumorpha achemon - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ecology Life History Overview: This species has one of the largest distributions of Sphingidae in the USA Found essentially throughout the US, missing only from small portions in the Northern US, this moth can virtually be found year round depending on where you go
Ceratomia catalpae - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Unlike many other Sphingidae that start out gregarious, these larvae remain as such throughout their entire larval development If you happen upon a caterpillar on a catalpa tree, take another look, there may very well be many more!
Xylophanes tersa - SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA In the deep south, this moth is active year-round This species is quite attracted to artificial light, both sexes will come to light with males being more common This is another Sphingidae species that likes to nectar on plants and can often be seen doing so, they do not seem to respond to bait