Species Ceratomia undulosa - Waved Sphinx - Hodges#7787

7787

Ceratomia undulosa (Walker)

Orig. Comb: Daremma undulosa Walker 1856

* phylogenetic sequence # 226700

undulosa - Latin for 'a wave' ("unda"); refers to the wavy lines on the adult's forewing

Wingspan 78-110 mm

Adult: forewing variably pale gray to yellowish-brown with distinct white reniform spot and several dark wavy lines completely crossing wing; lacks black basal dash (an important distinction); hindwing brownish-gray with three darker lines crossing wing, and white and dark checkered fringe

The illustration in Covell's Guide (1) shows an individual darker than most.

Larva: body usually greenish, sometimes reddish, with 7 pairs of oblique lateral stripes; head with pink or yellow band running from eyes to crown; horn pinkish; lower end of stripes extend only to intersegmental area, and lack white granulose spotting; anal plate convex above; anal plate and anal prolegs with conspicuous black spotting

[adapted from description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]

e. N. Amer. to TX and AB - Map (MPG)

deciduous forests, woodlots, tree plantations, shrubby areas, suburban and riparian areas; adults are nocturnal and come to light

Larvae feed preferentially on leaves of ash (Fraxinus spp.), especially Green Ash (F. pennsylvanica) in Canada, but also feed on fringetree (Chionanthus spp.), hawthorn (Crataegus), lilac (Syringa), oak (Quercus), privet (Ligustrum), and other woody plants.

Adults probably do not feed.

Caterpillars pupate underground; overwinters in pupa stage; two generations per year in the south; one generation in the north.

Mated pair; larva; larva; larva; pre-pupal larva; adult

very common; one of our most common sphinx moths

adult easily distinguished from Plebeian Sphinx (Paratrea plebeja) by lack of black basal dash on forewing (Waved Sphinx also has several wavy lines completely crossing forewing, whereas Plebeian Sphinx has only two lines - compare images of both species at CBIF)

larva similar to Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis), but lower end of stripes extend only to intersegmental area, and lack white granulose spotting

Covell, p. 33, plate 4 #10 (1)

Himmelman, plate A-4 (2)

Wagner, p. 12 (3)

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

live and pinned adult images - Bill Oehlke

Butterflies and Moths of North America