left"> Updated as per James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America, May 19, 2009

New London County, Connecticut

Northern Pine Sphinx, Lapara bombycoides, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

This page is inspired by and dedicated to Kitty McVitty of Old Mystic, New London County, Connecticut, for her interest in lepidoptera.

Thirty-seven Sphingidae species are listed for Connecticut on the U.S.G.S. website. Not all of the species are reported or anticipated in New London County, but many (19 as of May 2009) of them have been confirmed by USGS site. I have only added a few which I feel may also be present. It is hoped that this checklist, with the thumbnails and notes, will help you quickly identify the moths you are likely to encounter.




Sphinginae subfamily

Sphingini tribe:

Agrius cingulata unlikely stray

This species has been enountered in Hartford County as a stray from much further south.
The moth is a very strong flier and is frequently encountered far north of its usual range. It might rarely be seen in New London County.

Ceratomia amyntor WO, the Elm Sphinx or Four-horned Sphinx


Ceratomia catalpae WO, the Catalpa Sphinx

Catalpa is the larval host.

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. Note black and white collar separating thorax from abdomen.

Dolba hyloeus USGS, the Pawpaw Sphinx


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.

Lapara coniferarum WO, the Southern Pine Sphinx


Lintneria eremitus USGS, the Hermit Sphinx

This species is confirmed in New London County.


Manduca jasminearum WO the Ash Sphinx


Manduca quinquemaculatus USGS the Five-spotted Hawkmoth
The moth abdomen usually has five but sometimes six pairs of yellow bands. The upperside of the forewing is blurry brown and gray. If you grow tomatoes, you have probably encountered it.

Manduca sexta WO, the Carolina Sphinx

The abdomen usually has six pairs of yellow bands, broken across the back. The sixth set of markings is quite small. The upperside of the forewing has indistinct black, brown, and white markings. Larvae get very large and can strip a tomato plant.

Paratrea plebeja WO, the Plebeian Sphinx




Sphinx chersis USGS, 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 USGS, the Wild Cherry Sphinx

This species is not officially recorded, but I suspect it is present. We have them on P.E.I., but I do not see them nearly as frequently as I see the other Sphingidae.

Sphinx gordius USGS, the Apple Sphinx

The upperside of the forewing 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 USGS, the Laurel Sphinx

This species is confirmed in New London County. I have taken them on P.E.I., Canada, and reared them on lilac.

At rest the hindwings are usually completely covered.

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 pretty common here on Prince Edward Island, but don't fly too far south of Massachusetts, being replaced by Sphinx gordius in southern Connecticut.

Smerinthini Tribe:

Amorpha juglandis USGS, the Walnut Sphinx


Pachysphinx modesta USGS the Modest Sphinx or Poplar Sphinx

This moth has a large, heavy body, and females can be remarkably plump. Generally found more to the north.

Paonias astylus USGS, the Huckleberry Sphinx

Paonias astylus, the Huckleberry Sphinx (wingspan 55-65 mm), ranges from Maine south to Florida, west to Missouri and Mississippi. It tends to be uncommon.

Paonias excaecata USGS, the Blinded Sphinx

Named for the dull grey-blue spot in the hindwing, this moth has a wide distribution and is probably common in New London County.


Paonias myops USGS, the Small-eyed Sphinx



Smerinthus jamaicensis USGS, the Twin-spotted Sphinx

This moth is widely distributed and fairly common. It is confirmed in New London County.


Macroglossinae subfamily

Dilophonotini tribe:

Erinnyis ello WO, the Ello Sphinx

The abdomen has very distinct gray and black bands. The female's forewing upperside is pale gray with a few dark dots near the outer margin. possible stray

See Hemaris comparison.

Hemaris thysbe USGS, the Hummingbird Clearwing

This interesting day flier is confirmed for New London County.

They are widely distributed in the east from P.E.I. to Florida.

Hemaris gracilis WO, The Slender Clearwing or Graceful Clearwing

This day flier is not commonly reported, but may be present.

Hemaris diffinis WO, the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth

This moth is widely distributed.

Philampelini tribe:

Eumorpha achemon WO, the Achemon Sphinx

This moth is fairly often reported along the coast from southern New Jersey to central Maine.
Note the differences between this moth and the Pandorus Sphinx.

Eumorpha pandorus USGS, 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.

Macroglossini tribe:

Amphion floridensis USGS, the Nessus Sphinix



Darapsa choerilus USGS, 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. It is confirmed present.

Darapsa myron USGS, the Virginia Creeper Sphinx or the Grapevine Sphinx
This moth is recorded on the U.S.G.S. site for New London County.
It is widely reported as far north as southern Maine. If you have the foodplants indicated in the common names, you probably have this species nearby.

Darapsa versicolor USGS, the Hydrangea Sphinx

If you have hydrangea growing near a stream, then you may have the Hydrnagea Sphinx.

It has not been widely reported, however, and probably is uncommon.

Deidamia inscriptum WO, the Lettered Sphinx


Hyles gallii WO, the Bedstraw Hawk Moth or Gallium Sphinx

Some years I see them on P.E.I., some years, I do not.

Hyles lineata WO, the White-lined Sphinx

This species is a strong migrator from the south, and there are records from the west and to the north.

Sphecodina abbottii WO, the Abbott's Sphinx

This moth is very much under reported. It is a rapid day flier so is probably not in too many collections.

Grape is a popular larval host.

Xylophanes tersa WO, the Tersa Sphinx

This moth is much more common to the south. It is a strong migrant, but it has not been recorded in New London County. possible stray




