Google
WWW MPG website only

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Sphingidae
890123 – 7812   Sphinx drupiferarum Smith, 1797
             Wild Cherry Sphinx

© Marius Aurelian
Distribution: Caution: A single range map dot for a Canadian province may represent records without specific location data.
An uncommon species, ranges coast-to-coast from Nova Scotia to British Columbia southward where, excepting Florida and the desert southwest, it is found in the northern portions of the Gulf States and northern California.
Seasonality
and Size:
One brood throught most of its range, possibly two broods southward, flight period May into July. Wingspan 90 - 110 mm.
Larva and
Host Plants:
Foodplants include apple, cherry, peach, plum, lilac and hackberry. Larva is a green hornworm with 7 pairs of oblique lateral stripes, horn is purplish with yellowish-green base. Head is granulose with a pair of purplish lateral bands.
Description/
Field Marks:
  • Forewing dark gray with white edgings along the costa and outer margin.
  • Reniform spot with black edges.
  • Hindwing dark gray with two light gray bands.
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy: Sphinx drupiferarum Smith, 1797
Sphinx marginalis Clark, 1936
Sphinx utahensis Edwards, 1881
References
  • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Some specimens shown may not be sequenced. DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness not proof of identification.
  • Covell Field Guide p.36; Pl. 4(11, male).
  • Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
  • Hodges, R. W., 1971. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 21:p. 69; pl. 5.11. order or free PDF
  • Species Page at Bill Oehlke's moth website - Sphinx drupiferarum
  • Species Page at Block Island Moths
  • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
  • Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum
  • Species Page at Mass Moths
  • Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
  • Tuttle, J. P., 2007. Hawk Moths of North America: p. 89; pl. 7.10.
  • Wagner, D. L., (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America, pp. 256, 260.
Sphinx drupiferarum
© Nolie Schneider
Sphinx drupiferarum
© Nolie Schneider
Sphinx drupiferarum
© Nolie Schneider
Sphinx drupiferarum
100mm – © Jim Vargo
Sphinx drupiferarum
© Janice Stiefel
5th instar
Sphinx drupiferarum
© Canadian National Collection LG

Sphinx drupiferarum
© Janice Stiefel
4th instar

Moth Photographers Group  at the  Mississippi Entomological Museum  at the  Mississippi State University

Send suggestions, or submit photographs to Webmaster — Moth Photographers Group

Database design and scripting support provided by Mike Boone