Tag: Sphingidae

2026 Caterpillar Season – Snowberry Clearwing

2026 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis (Boisduval, 1836) P-no. 890204.5, fam. Sphingidae
Host plant: Found on both bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Dates found: 9 May, 2026; 27 June, 2026
Locations found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, Carter County, MO
Notes: This species seems to be able to host on any honeysuckle species found in Missouri, both native and exotic. There are not a lot of reasons for the modern ecologist to celebrate, but it genuinely brings me cheer when finding these caterpillars feeding on invasive bush honeysuckle and Japanese honeysuckle.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Abbott’s Sphinx

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Abbott’s Sphinx
Sphecodina abbottii (Swainson, 1821)P-no. 890192, fam. Sphingidae
Host plant: Found on wild grape (Vitus sp.)
Dates found: 27 June, 2026
Locations found: Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, Carter County, MO
Notes: The ultimate instar presents an eerie, hyper-realistic “eyespot” complete with an iris, pupil, and even a white catchlight reflection. Along with the scale-like pattern, it becomes an apt snake mimic. If a predator comes too close, the caterpillar will lash, squeak, and try to bite its attacker. While this larval form makes a great interpretation of a snake, the diurnal adult phase makes a great bee mimic, including yellow patches on its hind wings. When at rest, the moth folds in its hind wings, leaving it perfectly camouflaged against the bark of a tree.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Twin-spotted Sphinx

2025 Caterpillar Season, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth
Smerinthus jamaicensis fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7821)
Host plants: Found on black willow (Salix nigra)
Dates found: 15 September, 2025
Locations found: Little Creve Coeur Ecological Area, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This species prefers willows and poplars but can be found on other woody species.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Walnut Sphinx

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Walnut Sphinx
Amorpha juglandis fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7827)
Host plant: Found on hickory (Carya sp.)
Date found: 6, 13, September, 2025
Location found: Babler State Park, Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This is the only species of this genus in North America.

 

2025 Caterpillar Season – Waved Sphinx

2025 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Waved Sphinx
Ceratomia undulosa fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7787)
Host plant(s): Found on hickory (Carya sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 August, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: This is one of those perplexing situations. Wagner and most other authorities suggest this species hosts solely on ash (Fraxinus), but I found this guy actively feeding on a mid-sized hickory during an evening hunt.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Blinded Sphinx

2025 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Blinded Sphinx
Paonias excaecata fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7824)
Host plant(s): Found on willow (Salix sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 17 September, 2025 – Creve Coeur Lake Park, St. Louis County; 18-September, 2025 – Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: I collected one of these to rear that has now pupated. Hopefully I will find a fantastic adult in the spring.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Hummingbird Clearwing

2025 Caterpillar Season, Backyard Gardens, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Hummingbird Clearwing
Hemaris thysbe fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7853)
Host plant: Found on nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Date found: 23, Aug, 2025
Location found: Backyard of our subdivision home
Notes: From what I’ve read and my minimal experience, this species’ caterpillars spend their days on the ground in the leaf litter and only come up to their host vegetation during the night. I found this one around midnight feeding on my nannyberry.

Edit – 21-Sep-25: I brought this guy in to rear on the back porch and on 16-September, I found the adult moth flying in the cage. After cooling it down a little to take some photos, I let it go into the backyard. See photos below.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Pandora Sphinx

2025 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Pandora Sphinx
Eumorpha pandorus fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7859)
Host plant: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: During its final instar, this sphinx caterpillar loses its horn and is replaced with a button (not pictured). This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.

2025 Caterpillar Season – Virginia Creeper Sphinx

2025 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Virginia Creeper/Hog Sphinx
Darapsa myron fam. Sphingidae (Hodges#7885)
Host plant: Six individuals were found on this date and location: grape (Vitis sp.)-5, Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)-1
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: This one showing the autumn/pre-pupal warm/brown coloration. All other individuals found were green. This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.