2024 Caterpillar Season – Pawpaw Sphinx

Today’s caterpillar is from another monotypic genus in the family Sphingidae. The pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus) hosts not only on pawpaw (Asimina triloba), but also on hollies-Ilex and blueberries-Vaccinium. This animal was found on A. triloba in early August at Babler State Park in St. Louis County, MO.

Pawpaw Sphinx

Pawpaw Sphinx - Sphingidae - Dolba hyloeus (7784) - August G. Beckemeier C.A.
Pawpaw Sphinx – Sphingidae – Dolba hyloeus (7784) – August G. Beckemeier Conservation Area, St. Louis County, MO.

 

pawpaw-sphinx-sphingidae-dolba-hyloeus-7784-img_7569
Pawpaw Sphinx – Sphingidae – Dolba hyloeus (7784) – August G. Beckemeier Conservation Area, St. Louis County, MO.

 

pawpaw-sphinx-sphingidae-dolba-hyloeus-7784-img_7762
Pawpaw Sphinx (Brown Phase) – Sphingidae – Dolba hyloeus (7784) – St. Francois State Park, MO.

 

pawpaw-sphinx-sphingidae-dolba-hyloeus-7784-img_8848
Pawpaw Sphinx – Sphingidae – Dolba hyloeus (7784) – Piney River Narrows Natural Area, Texas County, MO. Parasitized.