Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Ceratomia undulosa (Walker)
Orig. Comb: Daremma undulosa Walker 1856
* phylogenetic sequence # 226700
Explanation of Names
undulosa - Latin for 'a wave' ("unda"); refers to the wavy lines on the adult's forewing
Identification
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]
Range
e. N. Amer. to TX and AB -
Map (MPG)
Habitat
deciduous forests, woodlots, tree plantations, shrubby areas, suburban and riparian areas; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Food
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.
Life Cycle
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
Remarks
very common; one of our most common sphinx moths
See Also
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
Print References
Covell, p. 33, plate 4 #10
(1)