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Sphingidae - Hawkmoths, Sphinx Moths

 

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Arthropoda
 Subphylum: Hexapoda
 Class: Insecta
 Order: Lepidoptera
 Family: Sphingidae
White-lined SphinxThere are around 1,100 species of medium to large moths in this family. In most species, the forewings are much longer than the hindwings. Many species in this family are brightly colored and have bold patterns.

The moths in this family have large bodies and a long proboscis that they use to eat nectar from flowering plants. Most species prefer flowers with a trumpet shape. Some species also feed on rotting fruit and sap.

The species in this family are fast and strong fliers and have very rapid wing beats. Many species hover in midair as they feed on nectar and are often mistaken for bees or hummingbirds!

Caterpillars in this family are usually stout and green or reddish in color. In some species, like the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm, caterpillars have a horn-like projection at the end of their abdomen.

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

  New Hampshire Species

 

 Species Found in the U.S.

Azalea Sphinx
Bedstraw Hawkmoth
Blinded Sphinx
Elm Sphinx
Five-spotted Hawkmoth
Great Ash Sphinx
Grote's Sphinx
Hermit Sphinx
Hummingbird Clearwing
Laurel Sphinx
Lettered Sphinx
Modest Sphinx
Nessus Sphinx
Northern Pine Sphinx
One-eyed Sphinx
Pawpaw Sphinx
Poecila Sphinx
Slender Clearwing
Small-eyed Sphinx
Snowberry Clearwing
Southern Pine Sphinx
Twin-spotted Sphinx
Virginia Creeper Sphinx
Walnut Sphinx
Waved Sphinx
White-lined Sphinx
Wild Cherry Sphinx
  Fadus Sphinx
Falcon Sphinx
False-windowed Sphinx
Fig Sphinx
Franck's Sphinx
Gaudy Sphinx
Gemmed Sphinx
Giant Sphinx
Gulf Pine Sphinx
Hagen's Sphinx
Half-blind Sphinx
Hartweg's Sphinx
Huckleberry Sphinx
Hydrangea Sphinx
Incense Cedar Sphinx
Intermediate Sphinx
Istar Sphinx
Juanita Sphinx
Kern Primrose Sphinx - Euproserpinus euterpe Threatened in US
Lassaux's Sphinx
Libya Sphinx
Mournful Sphinx
Muscosa Sphinx
Obscure Sphinx
Occult Sphinx
Oenotrus Sphinx
Pacific Green Sphinx
Pandorus Sphinx
Parce Sphinx
Phaeton Primrose Sphinx
Pine Hawkmoth
Pink-spotted Hawkmoth
Plebeian Sphinx
Pluto Sphinx
Porcus Sphinx
Proud Sphinx
Rimosus Sphinx
Rocky Mountain Clearwing
Rustic Sphinx
Sage Sphinx
Salicet Sphinx
Satellite Sphinx
Separated Sphinx
Sequoia Sphinx
Smith's Sphinx
Sonoran Sphinx
Spurge Hawkmoth
Spurious Sphinx
Streaked Sphinx
Tantalus Sphinx
Terloo Sphinx
Tersa Sphinx
Tetrio Sphinx
Titan Sphinx
Typhon Sphinx
Vashti Sphinx
Vega Sphinx
Vine Sphinx
White-plagued Sphinx
Wiest's Primrose Sphinx
Yellow-banded Sphinx

Species Found in the U.S.

 
Abbott's Sphinx
Achemon Sphinx
Alope Sphinx
Anchemola Sphinx
Apple Sphinx
Asella Sphinx
Ash Sphinx
Baldcypress Sphinx
Banded Sphinx
Big poplar Sphinx
Blackburn's Sphinx - Manduca blackburni Endangered in US
Blanchards' Amplypterus
Brown and Yellow Sphinx
Caicus Sphinx
Canadian Sphinx
Carolina Sphinx
Carter's Sphinx
Catalpa Sphinx
Chisoya Sphinx
Clark's Sphinx
Clavipes Sphinx
Clemen's Sphinx
Cluentius Sphinx
Cramer's Sphinx
Doll's Sphinx
Duponchel's Sphinx
Eacus Sphinx
Elegant Sphinx
Ello Sphinx
Elsa Sphinx