Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Smerinthus jamaicensis – (Drury, 1773)
Identification
Adult: male forewing gray with black and white markings; female forewing yellowish-brown with dark brown and white markings; thick dark bar runs from dark AM line to pale PM line; forewing outer margin unevenly scalloped; hindwing mostly reddish with pale yellow border and nearly straight costal margin; large blue spot near anal angle divided by black bar, giving the appearance of two blue spots - hence the common name, Twin-spotted Sphinx
Larva: body granulose, pale yellow or bluish-green with cream-colored and occasionally red markings; head triangular, light green with cream-colored band running to vertex; caudal horn attenuate, nearly straight, usually extending beyond rump, often bluish or black dorsally; thorax with very faint subdorsal line (in One-eyed Sphinx (S. cerisyi), subdorsal stripe well-defined and runs length of body)
[description adapted from Caterpillars of Eastern Forests]
Range
United States east of the Rockies, and southern Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia and southern Yukon
(absent from US west coast, extreme southern Texas and Florida, and Northwest Territories and Alaska)
Habitat
various brushy and forested habitats, suburbs, riparian areas; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from April to October
(2) in the south; June to August in the north
larvae from June to November
Food
larvae feed on leaves of apple, ash, birch, elm, plum, willow
(2); peach, willow
(1); preferred foodplants are willow and poplar [Caterpillars of Eastern Forests]
adults do not feed
Life Cycle
up to five generations per year in Louisiana; usually two generations per year in mid-latitudes; one generation in the north
Larva; adult
See Also
The black bar dividing the blue spot on the hindwing distinguishes this species from others that also have blue spots on the hindwing.
(2)Print References
Arnett, natural history (page 774) and B&W photo (figure 27.245)
(1)
Covell, Plate 6, #4, and page 37
(2)
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, Moths of Western North America, p. 243, Pl. 39.3.
(3)
Salsbury, p. 325--photo of specimen, adult
(4)Internet References
distribution in Canada list of provinces and territories (CBIF)
