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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Macroglossinae » Macroglossini » Eumorpha » Achemon Sphinx - Hodges#7861 (Eumorpha achemon)

Species Eumorpha achemon - Achemon Sphinx - Hodges#7861

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Eumorpha achemon Achemon sphinx - Eumorpha achemon Sphinx Moth Caterpillar - Eumorpha achemon Unknown - Eumorpha achemon Caterpillar - Eumorpha achemon Achemon Sphynx - Eumorpha achemon Achemon Sphinx - Eumorpha achemon Achemon Sphinx - 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
Dru Drury
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
Moth Photographers Group(4)
Pacific Northwest Moths
Bill Oehlke's species page
Illustrations of Natural History, p.51 (pl.XXIX, fig.1)    Drury's original description of the species (illustration here, index giving name here).
SphingidaeUSA Eumorpha achemon
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
Contributed by Mike Boone on 13 June, 2005 - 7:37am
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Chuck Entz, Maury Heiman, marcie oconnor, teakh
Last updated 26 September, 2019 - 11:47am

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