Macroglossinae
Guides
Cautethia grotei
Grote's sphinx
Cautethia grotei, or Grote's sphinx, is a small moth in the family Sphingidae described by Henry Edwards in 1882. It occurs in Florida and throughout the Caribbean islands, with multiple generations per year in Florida. Adults are known to nectar at flowers including Asystasia gangetica and Dracaena fragrans. Larvae feed on various Rubiaceae species.
Deidamia inscriptum
Lettered Sphinx
Deidamia inscriptum, commonly known as the Lettered Sphinx, is a moth species in the family Sphingidae. It is the sole member of its genus. The species was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839, with the genus erected by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1859. It is distributed across eastern North America.
Dilophonotini
Dilophonotini is a tribe of hawk moths (family Sphingidae) containing approximately 25 genera divided into two subtribes: Dilophonotina and Hemarina. The tribe includes both day-flying and crepuscular species, with Hemaris (clearwing moths) being particularly notable for their transparent wings and bee-mimicry. Members range from small to medium-sized sphingids with diverse wing patterns and body forms adapted to varied ecological niches.
Elope sphinx
Alope sphinx
Erinnyis alope is a sphinx moth (Sphingidae) distributed across the Neotropics from northern South America through Central America to northern Mexico and the southern United States. The species has been recorded as a stray as far north as Arkansas and Kansas. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate E. a. alope and E. a. dispersa endemic to the Galápagos Islands. The species is considered an agricultural pest, with larvae feeding principally on pawpaw (Carica papaya), and also recorded on rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and cassava (Manihot esculenta).
Enyo lugubris
Mournful Sphinx
Enyo lugubris, commonly known as the mournful sphinx, is a sphingid moth with a broad Neotropical and Nearctic distribution. Adults are medium-sized with a wingspan of 50–60 mm and are active year-round in tropical regions, with seasonal activity further north. The species exhibits two subspecies: the nominate form across most of its range, and E. l. delanoi restricted to the Galápagos Islands. Larval development occurs on various Vitaceae species.
Gnamptopelta
Gnamptopelta is a monotypic genus of ichneumonid wasps containing the single species G. obsidianator. The genus is distinguished by a uniquely concave clypeus, reflected in its etymology from Greek roots meaning 'bent shield.' These are large, predominantly black wasps found across eastern North America, where they function as specialist parasitoids of sphinx moth caterpillars feeding on grapevines.
Macroglossinae
Macroglossine Sphinx Moths
Macroglossinae is a subfamily of sphinx moths (Sphingidae) comprising three tribes: Dilophonotini, Macroglossini, and Philampelini. Members of this subfamily are characterized by their streamlined bodies and often exhibit specialized feeding behaviors. The subfamily includes diverse species with varying geographic distributions, from the Western Palaearctic to the Neotropics. Some species have been subjects of detailed phylogeographic and taxonomic study due to complex species boundaries and morphological variability.
Pachylioides resumens
Lesser Ficus Sphinx
Pachylioides resumens is a sphingid moth distributed across the Neotropics from Argentina north through Central America and the Caribbean, with occasional strays reaching the southern United States. The species is commonly known as the Lesser Ficus Sphinx, reflecting its association with Ficus host plants. It belongs to the tribe Dilophonotini within the subfamily Macroglossinae. The species was originally described by Francis Walker in 1856 under the basionym Pachylia resumens.
Perigonia
Perigonia is a genus of hawkmoths in the family Sphingidae, first described by Herrich-Schäffer in 1854. The genus contains approximately 15 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species within this genus are characterized by their relatively small size compared to other sphingids and distinctive wing patterns. The genus is placed in the tribe Dilophonotini within the subfamily Macroglossinae.
Phryxus caicus
Caicus Sphinx
Phryxus caicus is a sphinx moth and the sole species in its genus. It occurs primarily in the Neotropics with occasional records from the southeastern United States. Adults fly mainly during late summer and fall in temperate regions, though activity may continue year-round in tropical areas. Larvae feed on plants in the dogbane family.
Proserpinus gaurae
proud sphinx moth, Proud Sphinx
Proserpinus gaurae is a medium-sized sphinx moth with distinctive orange and chestnut coloration. Adults are active primarily from April through August, with one or two generations per year. The species is notable for having the longest labial palps of any Proserpinus species. Larvae feed on evening primrose relatives and pupate in shallow soil burrows to overwinter.
SphingidaeMacroglossinaeMacroglossiniProserpinusproud-sphinx-mothProud-SphinxNorth-AmericaUnited-StatesMexicoevening-primroseOnagraceaeOenotheraGauraEpilobiumnocturnalspringsummerAprilMayJuneJulyAugust1797SmithSphinx-gauraemedium-sizedorangechestnutreddishwhiteblacklabial-palpssinuateforewinghindwingshallow-burrowoverwinterpupalarvaherbivorelepidopteristrearcollectprairiemeadowdisturbedopen-habitatTexasLouisianaFloridaAlabamaMissouriGeorgiaSouth-Carolinanorthern-Mexico