Eumorpha Dreaming

Follow an Entomologist through her field adventures (and work). In this blog you'll find a lot of facts, stories, and finds containing insects, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and lots lots more. You'll also get to see some of my moth research. I'll be happy to ID insects for you (or try too!) feel free to either tag me, or use the submit button.

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Who likes mantids? This is my gorgeous female Ghost Mantid who recently molted into adulthood. Isn’t she beautiful?? 😍😍

[butterfly-and-moth-species]

Grammia genus

Grammia arge - Arge tiger (1, 2, 4)

Grammia parthenice - Parthenice tiger (3)

Family: Erebidae

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Though all of these are in the genus Apantesis now...

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This is Ceratomia amyntor, the Four Horned or Elm Sphinx. This particular specimen was a county record for Suffolk Co., MA, being found in Boston proper. I always enjoy getting county record Sphingidae, particularly ones in my home-county, or other large urban areas. A project I've been working on this year, and hope to continue into the future is Urban Sphingidae Diversity. I'm mapping Sphingidae diversity and abundance on an urban to rural gradient to see if there's differences in abdunance or diversity. It's an interesting project with some really neat results so far. #Ceratomia #Ceratomiaamyntor #ElmSphinx #FourHornedSphinx #Sphingidae #Lepidoptera #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #Entomology #Caterpillar #Larva #SphinxLarva #MothLarva #igclub_butterfly #igcb_mothmondays #insects_of_our_world https://www.instagram.com/p/B3adABJg_D1/?igshid=lucu2ce3udlv

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Paonias astylus, The Huckleberry Sphinx. I know I’ve posted this caterpillar and adult before, but I found so many this year it’s hard not to post them! This is a marvelous green form larva that was sent to me from NJ. If you’re willing to help collect caterpillars for my thesis, send me a PM! I’m always looking for Sphingidae within the USA! #Sphingidae #Paonias #Paoniasastylus #HuckleberrySphinx #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #Thesis #Project #GradSchool #GradWork #Caterpillars #Insect #Bug #Caterpillar #Nature https://www.instagram.com/p/B3XVVdngdrg/?igshid=10vc1xkzj5gx9

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Paonias excaecata or the Blinded Sphinx is a really cool looking caterpillar. While some forms are rather plain, others are speckled or splotched with brown or red. This is also the only Sphingidae species I have ever found eating Oak (Quercus). The individual pictured here is from Cape Cod on an Army Base. From July onward (in the Northeast), you can find this caterpillar out in the wild, they like many, many types of plants, and flouresce really well under UV light. They become extremely common later in the season, and often are one of the last sphingid caterpillars you can find each year. The adults are very pretty, with bright pink hindwings and a beautiful mottled brown forewing. #Paonias #Paoniasexcaecata #BlindedSphinx #SphinxMoth #Sphingidae #HawkMoth #Lepidoptera #Insect #Nature #Photography #Entomology #Caterpillar #Bug https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Uu9d7gCev/?igshid=1xv8d7hvh40wh

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This Amorpha juglandis from Texas is blue! Also known as the Walnut Sphinx, these larvae are usually green, or rarely yellow and pink, but I haven't seen blue before! This very rough looking larva will hiss and squeak at you when it feels disturbed. Since I'm working on color morphs for my thesis work, this was a really cool caterpillar to get in the mail. I am really excited to start fully running some experiments next summer, I'll be sure to post photos and preliminary results as I go :) #Amorpha #Amorphajuglandis #WalnutSphinx #Texas #Insects #Bug #Sphingidae #Lepidoptera #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #Entomology #Caterpillar #Larva #SphinxLarva #MothLarva #igclub_butterfly #igcb_mothmondays #insects_of_our_world https://www.instagram.com/p/B3SUZ-agQ4M/?igshid=1m4xh6qy0ld69

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I'm very excited that my bun, Flopsy, is staying with me in my lab for a few weeks. He is usually at my parent's house, but they're on vacation, so he gets to stay with me! Flopsy has been with me for 7 years now, he was a rescue from a pet store I worked at. He loves apples and wheat grass as well as running around and trying to trip people as they work. I know he's not a bug, but he's too cute to not post a picture of! #Flopsy #FlopsyBun #TheAdventuresofFlopsyBun #MisterFlopsy #Rabbit #InstaBun #RabbitsofInstagram #Bunnies https://www.instagram.com/p/B3J58xrARBE/?igshid=1buhdfti6l58q

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This regal looking fellow is Manduca jasminearum, The Ash Sphinx. There is also a Great Ash Sphinx (Sphinx chersis), but personally, I think this guy is better. Anyways, that's why I don't like common names. The end. I'm joking, not about the common names though. Anyways, Manduca jasminearum is found throughout the Northeast, and has recently been making a comeback in New England. The absolutely splendid adult is charcoal gray with black smudges. I really enjoyed taking photos of this cooperative caterpillar, and I'm excited for the (hopefully) equally cooperative adult. Stay tuned! #Manduca #Manducajasminearum #AshSphinx #GreatAshSphinx #That'sOneGreatAshSphinx #Sphingidae #Lepidoptera #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #Entomology #Caterpillar #Larva #SphinxLarva #MothLarva #igclub_butterfly #igcb_mothmondays #insects_of_our_world https://www.instagram.com/p/B3IM-IggLYm/?igshid=xjnkshgyo2gi

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Late nights at work mean beautiful sunsets. I always run outside to see the sky when I’m here late. It’s quite pretty! #Sunset #UmassBoston #GradSchool #Umass #Boston #Harbor #BostonHarbor #Massachusetts #Sea #Ocean #Landscape (at UMass Boston) https://www.instagram.com/p/B27WDefgbyE/?igshid=dhp02szeijr8

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Sorry I haven’t posted much lately. Grad school is busy! I hope you accept this gorgeous male Eumorpha fasciatus as consolation. This moth is sometimes known as the Banded Sphinx or Lesser Vine Sphinx. I think it should be called the “hmm it’s kinda boring OH LOOK AT THE HINDWINGS Sphinx” but perhaps that’s too long of a name? Thoughts? You can read more about this species including rearing notes on my website: www.sphingidae.us/Eumorpha-fasciatus #Eumorpha #Eumorphafasciatus #IGClub_butterfly #igcb_mothmonday #Entomology #insects_of_our_world #BandedSphinx #Moth #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #LesserVineSphinx #Moths #Insect #Lepidoptera https://www.instagram.com/p/B247FEKAO8N/?igshid=1hfdbxxwdh7ua

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Well look at that. I found a pandorus! This time, about a stone's throw from my parent's backyard in Boston. This is the second time I've encountered this species in Boston, the first being in 2017 when a HUGE adult female flew into my parent's mudporch and scared my mother half to death (they're BIG moths). Anyways, this larva is another green form (like the one I posted that I had reared) and is a larger third instar. You can see the caudual horn has shrunk significantly, and will dissapear the next time this larva sheds. What was also pretty cool, was that on a nearby tree, I found a big green 4th instar too! I'll post pictures of that separately. Enjoy this rare in-situ photo :). I really prefer my lab photography setup, but this works very nicely too. #Sphingidae #SphingidaeUSA #Eumorpha #Eumorphapandorus #PandorusSphinx #Hawkmoths #SphinxMoths #Insects #Caterpillar #GradWork #Projects #Moth #Lepidoptera #Entomology #Insects_Of_Our_World #igclub_butterfly #igcb_mothmonday https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Mi8C_AmZX/?igshid=yezslorjceam

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LOOK AT THIS CUTIE. This is Eumorpha pandorus (Pandorus Sphinx) and it's a very special caterpillar. I reared this larva from an egg from the adult Eumorpha pandorus I posted a while back. This species is one of the main ones I'm working with for my thesis project because the larvae can come in a number of color forms. Pictured here is a third instar E. pandorus that is green colored. The white blotches around the spiracles in this larva are cream, instead of the normal white. This species can also come in orange, brown, black, yellow, and red. It's pretty phenominal the amount of coloration this species can have! They are out and about right now in the Northeast, so if you have a lot of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia Creeper), Parthenocissus vitacea (Grape Woodbine), or Vitis (Grape), it's worth taking a look for this magnificent larva. If you happen to find a few, consider sending them to me to assist in my research :). Eumorpha pandorus is easily one of the most charasmatic sphingids found in the Northeast, and can be found all the way to Southern Florida and west to the Great Plains. The final instar of this larva is just massive and sort of resembles a walking sausage. Another fun fact about this species is the caudual horn. You can see in this image it's rather long and curly, resembling a Grape or Virginia Creeper tendril, the fourth instar will lose it's horn entirely, being replaced by a really cool false eyespot. I'll post a LOT more photos of this larva as it grows, as well as other Eumorpha pandorus larvae when/if I find some! #Sphingidae #SphingidaeUSA #Eumorpha #Eumorphapandorus #PandorusSphinx #Hawkmoths #SphinxMoths #Insects #Caterpillar #GradWork #Projects #Moth #Lepidoptera #Entomology #Insects_Of_Our_World #igclub_butterfly #igcb_mothmonday https://www.instagram.com/p/B2IJ3ZIAdB3/?igshid=epv7h6xgi0y7

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This is the next instar of Eumorpha fasciatus (Banded Sphinx). This individual is a fourth instar and has magnificent red coloration. The bands along the side are bright white. What's interesting, was that this larva molted into a really gorgeous multi-colored form in it's final instar. It's super interesting how some larvae change their colors multiple times throughout their life. I know I've mentioned it before, but because this is my thesis work, I'll likely mention it several more times. This larva (and a handful of others) were collected for me in Alabama and sent up to my lab. If you live in the Southeastern US and want to help me with my research, shoot me a PM and I can give you some information on how to find the larvae of this species, as well as supply you with shipping labels and permits (remember, it's illegal to ship larvae without permits!) as well as the shipping costs. I rely heavily upon field collected larvae from naturalists, citizen scientists, and the casual observer to complete my project. These moths are not breeding residents in my state, so the more I can get in the lab, the more likely it is I can start a breeding colony. #Sphingidae #SphingidaeUSA #Eumorpha #Eumorphafasciatus #BandedSphinx #Hawkmoths #SphinxMoths #Insects #Caterpillar #GradWork #Projects #Moth #Lepidoptera #Entomology https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ErXY2ABKI/?igshid=1xynzhhte9l7p

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Pictured here is the larva of Eumorpha fasciatus (Banded Sphinx). This is a third instar, and it's quite small! The horn is really elegant in this species and curves slightly backward. The bright red splotching along the spiracles will disspate in the next instar and make room for one of 5 really cool patterns or colors. More images of this species will be posted soon, as it's really one of my favorites (I think I've said this about almost everything I've posted... shh don't tell the caterpillars). This species is unusual in the Eumorpha as it feeds exclusively on Onagracea or the Primroses. Most commonly, this moth is encountered on Ludwigia which can be found growing in wet areas. I've encountered fully grown larvae of this species on a mostly submerged plant. The prepupal larva actually will hop off the plant and sometimes swim to shore to pupate. The adults are just stunning too. The range of this moth is quite large, but it's really only a breeding resident in the Southeastern USA and points further south. They do wander up the coast quite frequently and adults have been captured as far north as Maine! #Sphingidae #SphingidaeUSA #Eumorpha #Eumorphafasciatus #BandedSphinx #Hawkmoths #SphinxMoths #Insects #Caterpillar #GradWork #Projects #Moth #Lepidoptera #Entomology https://www.instagram.com/p/B2C1ex1Als3/?igshid=azd5xf1j9jmz

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This is Darapsa myron (Hog Sphinx or Virginia Creeper Sphinx). This is the third and final Darapsa species we have in the USA. Much like Darapsa choerilus that I posted, this is the brown form of the larva. This form is really stunning and makes the contrasting dorsal pattern of this larva really stick out. Darapsa myron is arguably one of the most common species of Sphingidae you encounter in the Northeast, but definitely the most common larva you find on vitaceous plants (Grape - Vitis spp., Virginia Creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Ampelopis, and others). The larvae do really well in captivity as long as you give them ample room, a bit of humidity, and ventalation. #Sphingidae #SphingidaeUSA #Darapsa #Darapsamyron #HogSphinx #VirginiaCreeperSphinx #Hawkmoths #SphinxMoths #Insects #Caterpillar #GradWork #Projects #Moth #Lepidoptera #Entomology https://www.instagram.com/p/B1_sNNzA_wQ/?igshid=107cyzcehd5zy

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This is Darapsa choerilus (Azalea Sphinx). This species, like many Sphingidae, exhibits a dark form and a standard green form. Pictured here is the dark form of this species. This coloration is the subject of my PhD project, the aim is to try and reliably induce the desired color morph. Some species have multiple, which makes my work even more fun. Darapsa is a wonderful genus, I've posted a lot of Darapsa versicolor lately, so I figured the other two species should share a bit of the limelight. This larva was recovered in Carbon Co., PA in the Poconos. It was found feeding on Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel), but is happily munching away on Viburnum in the lab. #Sphingidae #SphingidaeUSA #Darapsa #Darapsachoerilus #AzaleaSphinx #Hawkmoths #SphinxMoths #Insects #Caterpillar #GradWork #Projects #Moth #Lepidoptera #Entomology https://www.instagram.com/p/B19wz4gA_5T/?igshid=r4u50et2b3ej

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This is the larva of Paonias astylus (Huckleberry Sphinx) that I posted a while ago. This larva was spectacularly colored with it's gorgeous red splotching. The other neat thing about this larva is where it was found. This was found in Fort Indiantown Gap Military Base in Pennsylvania. I was lucky enough to assist on a moth survey there and oh boy did we find lots of caterpillars. This is an easy species to differentiate from the other two Paonias (P. myops and P. excaecata) found in the USA. The best way is by hostplant, if it's feeding solely on Vaccinium (Blueberry/Huckleberry), it could be this guy, but it could also be Paonias excaecata (Blinded Sphinx). The next thing to look at is the caudal horn, if it's distinctly bicolored and sticks straight up, congratulations, you have Paonias astylus! This species also tends to have a lot more red on it in comparison to the others, but that doesn't always help. This is one of the best times of year for caterpillars in the Northeast, and elsewhere in the US. You can learn a lot more about this species at www.sphingidae.us/paonias-astylus. We also have a key to larvae on the SphingidaeUSA website which can be super useful for IDing final instar Sphingidae caterpillars. Check it out! #Paoniasastylus #Paonias #Sphingidae #SphinxMoth #HawkMoth #HuckleberrySphinx #Caterpillar #SphingidaeUSA #Website #Educational #Nature #Entomology #Lepidoptera #Insect https://www.instagram.com/p/B14RvTKgj_L/?igshid=1jpo0lmgq0vuj