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Category Archives: Hummingbird Moths, Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths   rss

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Gaudy Sphinx from Argentina

Strange Moth(?)
Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Strange Moth(?)
i was with my friends having dinner in the garden at night when we spotted this rare moth-like bug, at first, we thought it was a little bird (it was as big as my hand with its wings spread) finally it got closer, an one of my friends went to have a closer look , it released some kinf of liquid from its abdomen, wich scared him a little bit, jaja, then it just flew away, i believe it is one of those night moths, altough i never saw one so big, an green like this one… any ideas?
Federico
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Gaudy Sphinx

Gaudy Sphinx

Hola Federico,
Most of the photos we receive of the Gaudy Sphinx, Eumorpha labruscae, come from Florida and the Caribbean, so we are happy to have your Argentine example from the southern portion of the species’ range.

Posted 21 December 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Pink Spotted Hawkmoth

Moth with a “monkey on his back”
Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Moth with a “monkey on his back”
Dear WTB,
This moth was hanging out on a birdhouse on our porch this summer. We live in Hagerstown, MD- between PA and WV. My son called out that it looked like it had a monkey face on its back- maybe a defense mechanism? Thought you might like to see it! Love your site!!
ABX Moser
The panhandle and valley of Western MD

Pink Spotted Hawkmoth

Pink Spotted Hawkmoth

Dear ABX Moser,
Your Sphinx Moth is a Pink Spotted Hawkmoth, Agrius cingulata which you can read more about on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website. If it had opened its wings, you would see the distinctive pink spotting on the abdomen and the pink stripes on the hind wings.

Posted 17 December 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Hummingbird Sphinx from Japan

flying bug
Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 11:19 PM
About a month ago, we saw this flying around the flowers pictured, near a river and the gardens of Osaka Castle, Japan. Sorry I couldn’t get a better picture (despite having a DSLR) - it wouldn’t stay still long enough. Pretty big really… with the body perhaps 3 or 3.5 cms long. Image has been sharpened to bring out details better. Don’t bust a gut on my behalf - just curious :-). Regards, Tony
Tony, Japan
Osaka, Japan

Hummingbird Moth from Japan

Hummingbird Moth from Japan

answering own question
Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Sorry - my friend found the answer to my query of 10 minutes ago: seems the bug is a Pellucid or Hummingbird Hawk Moth, for which a much better picture exists at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jshillaw/515960768/
Hope I haven’t taken your time… Regards, Tony
Tony, Japan
Osaka, Japan

Hi Tony,
The Flickr page you sent us to indicates:  “It’s Japanese name is  オオスカシバ (Oosukashiba ” but we wanted to try to find out the Linnean binomial name.  We googled Oosukashiba and found a site that listed Pellucid hawk moth = oosukashiba = Cephonodes hylas.  The Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic was our final destination.  There you may find fabulous life cycle photos as well as maps and information.

Posted 13 December 2008 § ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Oleander Hawk Moth

Oleander Hawk Moth (?) on Maui
Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 2:44 PM
I’ve tentatively identified this moth (see attached image) as an Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii). Does that seem correct? Pertinent info: Photo shot on a palm tree trunk near Pukalani, Maui (Hawai’i); altitude > 3,000 feet. Wingspan is about 10 cm. Any info you can provide is appreciated. Mahalo nui loa!
PS. GREAT website!!!
Malama aina!
Maui Mike
Pukalani, Maui, Hawai’i

Oleander Hawk Moth

Oleander Hawk Moth

Hi Maui Mike,
Your identification of an Oleander Hawk Moth is absolutely correct.  We haven’t posted a photo of this species in a very long time and we are happy to add your image to our archives.

Posted 06 December 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mating Fig Sphinxes

Hawk Moths-Do you know what kind. From Florida
Sat, Nov 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM
William Arney

Mating Fig Sphinxes

Mating Fig Sphinxes

Hi William,
These are mating Fig Sphinxes, Pachylia ficus, and we are thrilled to post your photo.

Posted 09 November 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Hummingbird Clearwing

Is this a clearwing moth
Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Took this photo in northeastern Illinois. I believe that it is a clearwing moth, but I do not know what type.
Norm Carl
northeastern Illinois near Chicago

Hummingbird Clearwing

Hummingbird Clearwing

Hi Norm,
We are happy to see that you figured out how to send the photo before we had a chance to respond.  We believe this is a Hummingbird Clearwing, Hemaris thysbe, but there are closely related species in the genus Hemaris that sometimes confuse us.  You can find lots of great information and photos on Bill Oehlke’s excellent website.

Posted 22 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Ello Sphinx Caterpillar and Emerged Adult

Large, smooth, green caterpillar in Florida
Hello Bugman!
I hope you can help me. I found this lovely, large caterpillar on a silver buttonwood bush in my Florida yard. I live in Brevard County on the east coast. Two sites have suggested that it may be a Tantalus Moth, but I could not find photos of a Tantalus Moth caterpillar online or in any books to verify it. This picture shows the critter on the branch he was eating. Do you recognize this caterpillar? He is 3″ long, the size of my index finger. Thank you!
Donna Peters
Indialantic, FL

Fig Sphinx Caterpillar

Fig Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Donna,
We are nearly certain that this is the caterpillar of the Fig Sphinx, Pachylia ficus. This is a highly variable caterpillar. We have checked Bill Oehlke’s excellent website, and the coloration on your specimen somewhat resembles one on his site, but it is still different. We are going to copy Bill Oehlke on this response so he can verify that our identification is correct. If our identification is correct, then the silver buttonwood bush, Conocarpus erectus, would be a new host plant for the caterpillar which feeds on members of the genus Ficus, the figs. Bill Oehlke may also request permission to post your interesting color variation on his own website.

Thank you, so much, for following up with me. I have several silver buttonwoods, and I have poured over all of them looking for more caterpillars, but this guy seems to be it. One of our neighbors has a fig tree, which may be worth mentioning. I don’t know if it translated in the photos, but the darker shade on the caterpillar’s back is purplish. Quite lovely!
Again, thank you.
Donna Peters

October 16, 2008
Daniel,
Here is reply I sent to Donna regarding “Pachylia ficus”
I am going to ask Jim Tuttle for his opinion. I wil get back to you and to Donna if I get an id from Jim

Hi Donna,
I am pretty sure the larvae are of one of the Erinnyis species, probably Erinnyis ello, possibly Erinnyis alope. I wil try for a second opinion and get back to you.
I am almost positive they are not Pachylia ficus.
Bill Oehlke

Daniel,
Jim Tuttle has confirmed the larvae are Erinnyis ello.
Bill Oehlke

Update: 11 November 2008
Hi Bill,
The caterpillar you identified for me as Erinnyis ello emerged today and was released this evening. I have attached a photo. It vibrated it’s wings on the potted plant for about 5 minutes, then flew away over the house. My 7 year old son loved it. Thanks again! :)
Donna Peters

Ello Sphinx

Ello Sphinx

Hi Donna,
Thanks for updating us on the emergence of your adult Ello Sphinx.

Posted 12 October 2008 § Hornworms ‡ Comments (0) °

Fig Sphinx

Is this a sphinx moth?
Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 5:19 PM
Found this beautiful moth resting underneath an orchid basket in my South Florida backyard. (Lake Worth) Its about 3-4 inches long.
It has a very long snout.
Julie
Lake Worth Florida

Fig Sphinx

Fig Sphinx

Hi Julie,
This is a Fig Sphinx, Pachylia ficus.  The larval food plants are in the genus Ficus, the figs, and the caterpillar has at least four distinct color morphs.

Posted 11 October 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Titan Sphinx: Breaking News!!!! Second unusual sighting of Tropical Species in Northen Climes this week

What is happening with the Titan Sphinx?
What is happening with the Titan Sphinx?
I am submitting this as a follow-up to Gary D. Taylor’s wonderful posting of a Titan Sphinx (Aellopos titan) on September 19. I will try not to repeat too much of what I submitted as a comment to that posting (a great new feature on your site, by the way). The Titan Sphinx is considered a tropical species with a normal range extending from northern Argentina to the US Gulf states. Beyond that there are scattered reports of strays in many of the eastern states and southern portions of eastern Canada. I had the great good fortune of seeing this individual in early August of this year in the extreme southeast corner of Manitoba, probably quite close to Garry’s siting. It turns out it has been reported from Manitoba only once before, and that was sometime pre-1925! It makes me wonder, is the species becoming more common up here? Was this just an exceptional year with a few individuals straying northward on a strong south wind? Was it the same individual (pretty unlikely, but an interesting thought)? It would be very interesting to know what other sitings there were this year, and I will definitely be looking for it again next year. Regards.
Karl
Winnipeg, Canada

Titan Sphinx: Tropical species in Canada!!!

Titan Sphinx: Tropical species in Canada!!!

Hi Karl,
Thanks for your letter and photo as well as the comment on the previous unusual Titan Sphinx sighting. We are thrilled to break this news to the entomological world. Here at What’s That Bug? we feel compelled to wax on the possibilities of these two unusual sightings. Global Warming perhaps? Transport by Hurricane Ike maybe? Could not some Titan Sphinxes have been picked up by Ike in the Caribbean and ridden the storm north in the relatively calm eye? We will be copying Bill Oehlke on this reply since he has compiled extensive species distribution data on the Sphingidae on his wonderful website. He may request permission to post your photo.

Posted 22 September 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Titan Sphinx

Titan Sphinx moth
While trying to find out what this moth was, we noticed you didn’t have a picture of it on your moth page. My students originally thought it was a hummingbird, then a bee, and finally a moth was suggested. My classes were able to identify it as a Titan Sphinx, Aellopos titan . This was found in the farthest northwest corner of Minnesota, which made it hard to identify because it is not normally here. This will be one of my biggest goals in life, being on your site. The only thing better would be to win a Nasty Reader Award. You have a great reference site.
Respectfully,
Gary D. Taylor
Science Teacher
Tri-County High School

Titan Sphinx

Titan Sphinx

Hi Gary,
Thank you so much for contributing a new species, the Titan Sphinx or White-Banded Day Sphinx, Aellopos titan, to our website. We are linking to Bill Oehlke’s fabulous website in order to provide more information on this species. We just transitioned to our new format this weekend, and we had numerous technical difficulties. We are happy we decided to sort through two day old mail to find post worthy letters. We seriously cannot imagine you ever achieving the infamy of our Nasty Reader Award since your correspondence is so gracious. We will be copying Bill Oehlke on this response as he will probably want to add this unusual sighting to his own website, and he will probably request permission to use your image as well. Bill Oehlke can also verify that the identification is correct.

Posted 19 September 2008 § ‡ Comments (3) °

Gaudy Sphinx

Sphinx/Hawkmoth
I know you are incredibally busy. You previuosly helped me identify mournful sphinx moths that feed on flowers in my backyard and hover like hummingbirds. I have a new photo of a gaudy sphinx I’ve attached. Can you please tell me the difference between hawk moths and sphinx moths? Do all sphinx moths hover like hummingbirds? Are there hawk moths in Central Florida?Thanks,
Tobey Barr

Gaudy Sphinx Moth

Gaudy Sphinx Moth

Hi Tobey,
Thanks so much for your gorgeous photo of a Gaudy Sphinx. To answer your question, Sphinx Moths and Hawk Moths are the same, but it is a local preference. In the U.S. we say Sphinx and Brits call them Hawk Moths.

Posted 13 September 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mournful Sphinx

mournful sphinx??
Central Florida, photo taken 9.3.08.
Is this a mournful sphinx?  It drinks from my pentas in the evening and hovers like a hummingbird.  I’ve always called them hummingbird hawk moths.  They come in pairs, and one is darker than the other.  They are 1-1.5" tip to tail. Thanks,
Tobey Barr

Hi Tobey,
In our opinion, you are correct with your identification of a Mournful Sphinx, Enyo lugubris. You can read more about this wide ranging Sphinx on Bill Oehlke’s website.

Posted 04 September 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Oleander Hawk Moth

Oleander Hawk Moth
This moth was photographed in Oklahoma in August 2008.  From what I have read on your site, this is primarily a Mediterranean moth, except it has been found in Hawaii.  Is it unusual to be found in the center of the United States?
DANIEL B. BAUMANN, P.E.

Hi DANIEL,
While an Oleander Hawkmoth would be quite unusual in Oklahoma, your own Pandorus Sphinx, Eumorpha pandorus, is not so strange. You can read up on them on Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website.

Posted 03 September 2008 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Overkill: Sphinx Moth Sprayed to Death

Overkill: Sphinx Moth sprayed to death!!!
(08/15/2008) is it as dangerous as it looks?
Hi,
my little brother saw this bug upside down on our porch in Italy. He killed it with wasp spray, so it’s all wet, which might make it a little harder to recognize. I hope you can still get an idea of what it is… Thanks a lot!
Esther

Sphinx Moth Exterminated

Sphinx Moth Exterminated

Hi Ester,
If ever the word “overkill” could be used regarding the use of pesticides, your photo ranks a close third after the global use of DDT and the statewide spraying of Malathion against the Med Fly in California in the 1980s. It appears your brother used an entire spray can of foaming pesticide to dispatch one harmless Sphinx Moth. This is textbook unnecessary carnage.

Posted 15 August 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Tersa Sphinx

I have no idea what kind of bug this is
My name is Kathleen and I live in Pasadena, Texas. I found this bug outside my house on a tent in the backyard. I asked friends if they knew what kind of bug it was, and none of them knew. They also said they had never seen a bug like this before. Oddly enough, I saw another one like that the other night in my backyard. If you could please tell me what kind of bug it is, I would appreciate it. Its become a mystery to us all. Thank you,
Kathleen

Hi Kathleen,
You can now impress your friends with the name of an insect that begins and ends with the letter X. This is a Xylophanes tersa, the Tersa Sphinx. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this reply so he can add your location information to his comprehensive species distribution data.

Posted 12 August 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Clearwing

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
No question, really – just another Hummingbird Clearwing Moth photo if you’d like to use it. Seen for the first time by several neighbors on one day in August, 2008.
Kim Gould
Aliquippa , PA

Hi Kim,
We have been getting numerous excellent images of Clearwing Moths in the genus Hemaris recently, and it is time to post a photo on our homepage. We have difficulty distinguishing the different members of the genus as there is much variability within the species as well as similarity between the species. We will copy Bill Oehlke on our reply so he can utilize your location data for his records, and also perhaps he can identify the species for us.

Posted 06 August 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Poplar Hawk Moth from Ireland

catarpilar
Hello Daniel,
Thanks for your answer, i found another one in the garden its the same as the first one but different collour, is it the same?? and the moth on the wall is that one of the catarpilar’s it was 5 cm Kind regards
Jeannette

Hi Again Jeannette,
Your moth is unrelated to your caterpillar. This is a Poplar Hawk Moth, Laothoe populi, and you can read about it on the UK Moth site. In the future, please limit your identification requests to one species per email as it makes our archiving and posting process difficult if multiple species are included together.

Posted 24 July 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Western Poplar Sphinx

Dear Mr Bugman,
I received these pictures asking me if it was an Atlas moth, is it or is it a "humming bird moth"? It was found at the Umatilla Chemical Demilitaration Facility on the Umatilla Chemical Depot in Hermiston Oregon. The specimen was released after the pictures were taken. Thank You,
Don Gillis
Natural Resources Manager

Hi Don,
Your indiginous moth appears to be a Western Poplar Sphinx, Pachysphinx occidentalis, which is found from Western Canada to Baja California. We are going to seek the advice of Bill Oehlke as well as copying him on this response since he is compiling comprehensive data on species sightings.

Confirmation: from Bill Oehlke
Daniel, Pachysphinx occidentalis from Hermiston, Umatilla County, Oregon. Norte distinct am line which is blurry in modesta. Modesta also tend to have more of a blue grey colour while occidentalis is yellower. They are tricky to tell apart. Both fly in Umatilla County.

Posted 22 July 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Mating Western Poplar Sphinxes

Big Poplar Sphinx?
Hello …
This pair of Moths were photographed in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, near Edgewood, on 7/18/’08. The wings across the widest span (folded) were approximately four inches. They look to be Big Poplar Sphinx, Pachysphinx modesta, but I was pretty sure the range for the Big Poplar was east of the Mississippi. Am I wrong? Subspecies? I know you are busy, any thought would be appreciated. (wonderful site) Thanks …
Richard In Illinois

Hi Richard,
Pachysphinx modesta, also known as the Modest Sphinx as well as the Poplar Sphinx and Big Poplar Sphinx, is listed on Bill Oehlke’s website as being sighted in Illinois. We are copying him on this response so he can add your data to the comprehensive information he is compiling on species distribution.

Correction: from Bill Oehlke
Richard, If you send images to me as a jpg attachment I wil do the id They are most likely P. occidentalis in New Mexico. I would like to use image with credit to you on a Santa Fe County pictoral thumbnail page that I wil create?? P. modesta is generally more eastern, but they do fly into extreme northeastern NM and into eastern Washington. I have to upadate my page for range info on modesta. Most of the western Pachysphinx are proving to be occidentalis.

Ed. Note: OOps, we misunderstood the photo location in the body of the letter and used the Illinois location in the signature.

Posted 22 July 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Xylophanes pluto: Imago and Caterpillar

Mystery Sphinx Moth Identified!!
Scrolling through your caterpillar pages, I recognized Xylophanes pluto http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/xpluto.htm as the larvae of the moth in the photo I sent you a few days ago. I’m raising another one now. Yesterday it molted and changed from bright green to deep brown in a matter of hours. Thanks for your fascinating web site!
Sascha

We are happy you identified a caterpillar we did not have a chance to write back to you about.

Actually the insect I was trying to identify was the Xylophanes Pluto moth, not the caterpillar. I’m sending the photo again, since I don’t believe you have one in your database.
Keep up the wonderful work!
Sascha

Hi again Sacha,
Thanks so much for sending us the photo of the adult Xylophanes pluto, but we are a bit confused as you mention a larva and we missed you original email. Do you have a caterpillar photo to add to this posting? Can you provide a location to add to the posting? Thanks. We are copying Bill Oehlke on this email as he is keeping comprehensive data on the species distribution of Sphinx Moths in North America.

Update: (07/20/2008)
Hi Daniel, Here is the text of my original letter, sent on 7/16/08: Maybe you can help me identify this sphinx moth which hatched from a caterpillar I found on my pentas here in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It is similar to the Virginia Creeper sphinx , but different enough that I think it’s something else. I checked through the “moths” sections and didn’t see an identical one. Any idea? Thanks, Sascha In the first letter, I neglected to mention that I’d hatched the moth - or rather, sheltered the larva so I could watch it pupate and hatch. A few days after sending that letter, I recognized the Xylophanes Pluto caterpillar on your website. I didn’t get a chance to photograph the first caterpillar before it changed, but here are some photos of the one I’m currently watching. Although this one is the brown morph, the adult moth featured in the photo was from the green morph. Bill Oehlke might like to know that there are also Tersa Sphinx caterpillars on the same penta bush. I am happy to provide information and photographs for his efforts and yours.
Sascha Rybinski
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Hi again Sascha,
Thanks for the additional information, the wonderful new photos of the caterpillar, and for assisting Bill Oehlke.

Posted 20 July 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °