Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Eumorpha achemon - Achemon Sphinx - Hodges#7861

Eumorpha achemon Sphinx (Eumorpha achemon) - Side View - Eumorpha achemon Large caterpillar - swallowtail? - Eumorpha achemon Unknown Caterpillar - Eumorpha achemon OK Caterpillar - Eumorpha achemon Achemon Sphinx - Eumorpha achemon Achemon Sphinx  (Eumorpha achemon)_image2 - Eumorpha achemon - female Achemon Sphinx Moth - Eumorpha achemon
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)
Family Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)
Subfamily Macroglossinae
Tribe Macroglossini
Genus Eumorpha
Species achemon (Achemon Sphinx - Hodges#7861)
Hodges Number
7861
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Eumorpha achemon (Drury, 1773)
Sphinx achemon Drury, 1773
Explanation of Names
In Greek mythology, Achemon (also spelled Acmon) was one of two mischievous brothers called the Cercopes
Size
Wingspan 87-96 mm.(1)
Larva probably similar to Pandorus sphinx, to about 90 mm (3.5")
Identification
Larvae may be tan or green, with white diagonal elongated/segmented spiracular spots from A3 to A7. "Horn" on tail end is lost after the fourth instar. Pupates in burrows in the soil.
Range
"Maine west to North Dakota and southern Oregon; south to south Florida, southern California, and Mexico." (BMNA)
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of grape (Vitis), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus), Ampelopsis and related vining plants.

Adults take nectar from flowers.
Life Cycle
egg and first instar larvae; older larvae; older larva; adult
See Also
Caterpillars are similar to Pandorus Sphinx, and eat a similar range of plants, but Achemon has narrow segmented spots on each segment from A3 - A7, instead of Pandorus's single large one.
Print References
Covell, C. V. 1984. Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths. p. 41 & plate 3 #11. (1)
Hodges, R. W., 1971. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 21, Sphingidae. p. 124; pl. 11.17.(2)
Wagner, D. L. 2005. Caterpillars of Eastern North America. p.269
(3)
Internet References
Illustrations of Natural History, p.51 (pl.XXIX, fig.1)    Drury's original description of the species (illustration here, index giving name here).
Works Cited
1.Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths
Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company.
2.The Moths of America North of Mexico Fascicle 21 Sphingidae
Ronald W. Hodges. 1971. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation.
3.Caterpillars of Eastern North America
David L. Wagner. 2005. Princeton University Press.
4.North American Moth Photographers Group