Elm Sphinx (Four-horned Sphinx)
Ceratomia amyntor (Geyer, 1835) P-no. 890102
Host plant: Found on American elm (Ulmus americana)
Date found(s): July–August, 2026
Location(s) found: Carter County, MO, Ste. Genevieve County, MO; St. Louis County, MO
Notes: An excellent example of camouflage. The four thoracic horns aptly mimic the teeth on the margins of the leaves on which they feed. These larva spend most of their time hiding upside-down on the undersides of elm leaves. The pale, oblique lines leading from the stomata to the mid-dorsal line let them blend in with elm leaves that feature prominent pinnate venation on their undersides (see photo).
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 