Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
BugGuide currently follows the moth classification and nomenclature used at
All-Leps.
Explanation of Names
"Hornworm" due to the stiff pointy dorsal extension near the end of the abdomen of most larvae.
Identification
Sphingidae Thumbnail Pix - Jim Vargo's Moths of North America - Moth Photographers Group
Medium to very large. Body very robust; abdomen usually tapering to a sharp point. Wings usually narrow; forewing sharp-pointed or with an irregular outer margin. No ocelli or tympanal organs. Proboscis usually well developed, extremely long in some species that feed in flowers with deep calyxes. Antennae gradually thicken along length, then become narrower toward tip.
Larvae naked except for a few scattered hairs. Most have a prominent dorsal horn at the tip of abdomen (thus the name, hornworms).
Food
Larvae feed both day and night on many kinds of woody and herbaceous plants.
Life Cycle
Usually pupate in soil, though some form loose cocoons among leaf litter.
Remarks
Some are active only at night, others at twilight or dawn, and some, such as the clearwings (e.g. genus
Hemaris - not to be confused with the Clearwing family,
Sesiidae) feed on flower nectar during the day.
Some larvae (hornworms) do serious damage to crop plants (e.g. tomato, tobacco, potato). Hornworms are often attacked by braconid wasp parasitoids.
Print References
Brou V.A., Jr. & C.D. Brou. 1997.
Distribution and phenologies of Louisiana Sphingidae. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 51(2): 156-175.
Selman, C.L. 1975. A Pictorial Key to the Hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of Eastern United States (except Florida). Ohio Biological Survey, Biological Notes No. 9., Columbus, OH. 31 pp.
Internet References
Sphingidae Thumbnail Pix - Jim Vargo's Moths of North America - Moth Photographers Group
Sphingidae of the Americas--has a concise list of the taxonomy: genera by tribe and subfamily - which does not strictly follow All-Leps because it places the tribe Smerinthini under Sphinginae, whereas All-Leps places it under its own subfamily, Smerinthinae, and All-Leps does not recognize the tribe Philampelini (Bill Oehlke, silkmoths.bizland.com)
thumbnail images of pinned adults of species occurring in Canada (CBIF)
