Best Sphingid
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The Oleander sphinx moth, *Daphnis nerii*, is a hawk moth native to Americas. It’s recognized by its distinctive green and pink coloration in larval form. These moths are notable for their specialized diet of oleander plants and undertake impressive migrations. They are primarily observed by lepidop...
The Hummingbird Clearwing Moth is a North American moth belonging to the Sphingidae family. It’s notable for its remarkable resemblance to hummingbirds, exhibiting transparent wing sections and mimicking their hovering feeding behavior. This mimicry serves as camouflage, protecting it from predators...
The Silver-striped hawk-moth (Hippotion celerio) is a migratory species of Sphingidae found across the Old World, including Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The adult moth is characterized by its streamlined wings and distinct silver stripes along its pink and black abdomen. It is highly adaptab...
The snowberry clearwing, Hemaris diffinis, is a day-flying sphinx moth native to North America. Its largely transparent wings, stout yellow-and-black body, and hovering flight resemble a bumblebee, an example of protective mimicry; adults feed at flowers with a long proboscis. The caterpillars feed...
The Tersa sphinx moth (Xylophanes tersa) is a species of hawk moth found primarily across the Americas, ranging from the eastern and southern United States down through Central America. It is characterized by a streamlined body, slender brown-striped forewings, and distinctively patterned hindwings...
The gaudy sphinx moth (Eumorpha labruscae) is a large hawk moth belonging to the family Sphingidae, widely distributed across the Americas from the southern United States to Argentina. It is recognized by its vivid coloration, featuring intricate patterns of green, pink, and white on its wings. The...
The white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) is a prominent hawk moth of the family Sphingidae, described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775. It is one of the most abundant and widespread sphinx moths in North America, with a range extending into Central and South America. The adult moth features d...
The Pandorus sphinx moth (Eumorpha pandorus) is a large sphinx moth in the family Sphingidae native to eastern North America. Adults display olive-green and pink coloration on their wings and are strong fliers active during late summer evenings. The caterpillars are large hornworms that feed primari...
The tetrio sphinx moth, Pseudosphinx tetrio, is a large hawk moth native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas, with a range extending from Florida and the Caribbean through Central America into South America. Its conspicuous caterpillars have black-and-yellow bands, red heads, and long...
The one-eyed sphinx moth, Smerinthus cerisyi, is a North American hawk moth in the family Sphingidae. Its common name refers to the prominent eyespot displayed on each hindwing, markings that are partly concealed while the moth rests and may help startle predators when exposed. The species was descr...
Small North American day-flying sphinx moth (Amphion floridensis) with two yellow abdominal bands; active during daylight and wasp-like in appearance.
Widespread New World sphinx moth (Erinnyis ello) ranging from the southern US to Argentina; larvae feed on papaya, euphorbs, and plumeria species.
North American hawk moth (Eumorpha achemon) with distinctive pink hindwings; larvae feed on grape and Virginia creeper and are occasionally found in vineyards.
Neotropical day-flying hawk moth (Aellopos titan) ranging from the southern US through South America; known for hummingbird-like hovering flight while nectaring.
The giant sphinx moth is Cocytius antaeus, a Neotropical hawk moth described by Dru Drury in 1773 and linked to ghost orchid pollination.
New World hawk moth (Eumorpha fasciatus) found from the southeastern US through South America; recognized by its bold pink and olive-brown wing banding.
The elm sphinx moth is Ceratomia amyntor, a North American hawk moth described by Geyer in 1835 whose larvae bear four hornlike thoracic projections.
The twin-spotted sphinx moth is Smerinthus jamaicensis, a North American hawk moth described by Dru Drury in 1773 with blue hindwing eyespots that are often divided.
Neotropical hawk moth (Pachylia ficus) found from Mexico through South America; named for its larvae, which feed on fig trees (Ficus species).
New World hawk moth (Eumorpha vitis) ranging from the southern US through South America; larvae feed on grape vines and occasionally cause minor defoliation.
The waved sphinx moth is Ceratomia undulosa, an eastern North American hawk moth described by Walker in 1856 and recorded east of the Rockies.
The apple sphinx moth is Sphinx gordius, a northern North American hawk moth described by Pieter Cramer in 1780 whose larvae feed on apple and rose.
Large North American sphinx moth (Pachysphinx occidentalis) with a wingspan reaching 130 mm; larvae feed on cottonwood and willow across the Great Plains.
The great ash sphinx moth is Sphinx chersis, a North American hawk moth described by Hubner in 1823 whose larvae use ash, lilac and privet.
The wild cherry sphinx moth is Sphinx drupiferarum, a U.S. and southern Canadian hawk moth described by J. E. Smith in 1797 whose larvae feed on Prunus.
North American hawk moth (Darapsa myron) found in eastern forests; larvae feed primarily on Virginia creeper and wild grape, which are its main host plants.
The laurel sphinx moth is Sphinx kalmiae, a North American hawk moth named by J. E. Smith in 1797 after Kalmia, its first recorded larval host.
The pawpaw sphinx moth is Dolba hyloeus, the only species in genus Dolba, described by Dru Drury in 1773 and named for pawpaw-feeding larvae.
North American hawk moth (Amorpha juglandis) whose larvae feed on walnut, butternut, and hickory; the caterpillar produces audible sounds when disturbed.
The catalpa sphinx moth is Ceratomia catalpae, a southeastern North American hawk moth described by Boisduval in 1875 whose larvae defoliate catalpa trees.
